--- title: "Gnomeo & Juliet: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Gnomeo & Juliet (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 16 reviews: 5 positive, 8 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics settle on the same word for Gnomeo & Juliet: charming. The reviews lean mildly positive, with the kindest calling it a cheerful, likeable children’s film that works better than its garden-gnome premise ought to allow. Praise clusters around the voice cast, the detailed animation of the rival red-and-blue gardens, and the affectionate, distinctly British way the film plays with Shakespeare rather than simply raiding him. The reservations are almost all about the script. Many find the pop-culture gags lazy and the story too reliant on borrowed jokes, and the Elton John songs divide critics between those who find them a pleasure and those who hear them as recycled. The spread is wide, from warm approval to outright dismissal: Time Out and The Hollywood Reporter both judge it derivative and short on inspiration, while Den of Geek suspects it will amuse cynical adults more than the children it is aimed at. ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2006. Hughes finds the film unexpectedly successful despite its crackpot premise. He praises its madcap invention and eccentricity, along with its recognisable voice cast. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gnomeo-juliet-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2011. Turan finds the film playful, inventive, and endearing, with a gently amusing and sweet tone. He singles out its imaginative garden-gnome premise and affectionate Shakespearean reworking as sources of old-fashioned fun. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-feb-11-la-et-gnomeo-juliet-20110211-story.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 February 2011. Chang finds the film an enjoyable, goofy diversion that succeeds despite its modest ambitions. He praises its sparkling vocal performances and balance of humor and emotion. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/gnomeo-juliet-1117944530/) ## IndieWire — Daniel Walber Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2011. Walber finds the film charming overall, though its pop-culture jokes sometimes fall flat. He praises its vivid red-and-blue animation and affectionate, humorous handling of Shakespeare. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/gnomeo-and-juliet-is-a-star-crossed-mash-up-of-shakespeare-and-toy-story-226815/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 February 2011. Bradshaw finds it a cheerful, likable children’s film with a big heart, though its comedy is only mildly funny. He singles out its warm-hearted appeal as stronger than its jokes. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/10/gnomeo-and-juliet-review) ## Screen Daily — Mark Adams Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2011. The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall prevents access to the critic’s verdict. No praise or complaint is visible in the available text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/-gnomeo-and-juliet/5024122.article) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating C+. 10 February 2011. Robinson finds the film a charming-enough but lazy, self-satisfied retelling that leans too heavily on pop-culture gags. She praises the detailed animation and the pottery gnomes’ visual and audio design. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/gnomeo-juliet-1798167287) ## Radio Times — Dave Aldridge Rating 3/5. Aldridge finds the film bright, breezy and cute. He praises its star-studded voice cast and use of Elton John’s songs. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ljy2cn/gnomeo-juliet/) ## Slant Magazine — Glenn Heath Jr. Rating 2/4. 9 February 2011. The review finds the film familiar and overly reliant on irony, though it ultimately sees a tender, whimsical mix with resonant themes. It praises the lovers’ greenhouse scene and performances, while criticizing the tacked-on adult references. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/gnomeo-and-juliet/) ## Time Out — Nick Schager Rating 2/5. 8 February 2011. The review dismisses the film as a weak, derivative adaptation. It faults the story for borrowing from stronger Shakespeare adaptations rather than offering much of its own. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gnomeo-juliet) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechstshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2011. The critic finds the film short on inspiration despite its promising premise and voice cast. They single out a few inspired sequences but complain that the humor and Elton John songs feel recycled or awkwardly inserted. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-animated-3d-gnomeo-97162/) ## Den of Geek — Mark Harrison Rating 3 out of 5. 13 February 2011. Harrison finds the film an enjoyable, eccentric surprise, though it may appeal more to cynical older viewers than its target audience. He praises the purposeful Shakespeare jokes and the fragile characters’ sense of jeopardy. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gnomeo-juliet-review-2/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2011. Reynolds finds it a charming, fun reworking, though it falls short as a definitive adaptation of Shakespeare. He praises the Elton John soundtrack and singles out the cleverly choreographed orchid chase. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a297245/gnomeo-juliet/) ## HeyUGuys — Lisa Giles-Keddie Rating 3/5. 10 February 2011. The critic finds the film charming, eccentric fun that becomes a guilty pleasure despite stronger animated offerings. They praise its richly detailed visuals and playful British character. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/gnomeo-and-juliet-review/) ## NME — James McMahon Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film charming and fun but ultimately limited by a weak, unintelligent script. The animation is impressive, though the film lacks the broader appeal of Pixar or Shrek. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-movie-11848-319901) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 9 July 2011. The critic finds the film charming but ultimately ordinary, saying it fails to live up to its quirky premise. The review praises the cast’s eclectic performances, especially Ashley Jensen, Patrick Stewart and Richard Wilson. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/gnomeo-juliet-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md