Steph's Movie Review: Gnomeo & Juliet

I'm still not exactly sure what made me think that I should take my just turned two-and-a-half year old son to a movie. I mean, this kid bounces off the walls and just never seems to sit still. Ever. Period. At two, going on three, his prime objective in life is to just run (well, when it's not to torture his little brother) and certainly not to sit still for any given period of time. But, there was something in me this time that thought, OK, let's give it a go and see if he will watch a full movie. In my favor was the fact that Gnomeo and Juliet is in 3D - he love love loves his sunglasses so I thought we might have it made in the shade (pun intended) with the 3D glasses.

My expectations of my son watching a movie were low, too low in fact. This kid just completely amazed me! Not only was he calm sitting in the packed theater a half hour before showtime, he sat there people watching as he munched on pretzel sticks - round one in my arsenal of snacks to help keep him still. Before we arrived, I told him that the theater would be dark, that he would hear other children talking and that them movie would be loud. My husband also came with us and he played up the "special" sunglasses that we would get to wear. I felt like we had prepped our son (and ourselves) as much as possible and went in with the goal of making it halfway through the movie before any meltdowns might occur.

As I said, we were quite mistaken. Not only was my son taken by the movie, he watched it with the "special glasses" for one-third of the movie and didn't get out of his seat until the last 15 minutes. Wow. Once the glasses were off, he was still happy to watch the movie which was easy enough to watch even if you weren't wearing said glasses. My son also informed me, and the rest of the movie goers, that the movie was not loud at all. It's one of those things that I really struck me, after all this is a G movie, no need to destroy the eardrums of the kids while viewing it like most other productions seem to do these days.

When we left, my son couldn't stop talking about his first movie experience, and that he liked "The blue ones" but that the girl gnome "was pretty too". I would definitely suggest this movie if you have been on the fence about bringing your child to the theater.

Movie Symopsis

The greatest love story ever told, starring...garden gnomes? In the upcoming “Gnomeo & Juliet,” Shakespeare's revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. Directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”) and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, the film features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

GNOMEO & JULIET (TOUCHSTONE PICTURES)

http://www.gnomeoandjuliet.com/

Rating: G

Length: Approximately 90 minutes

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Cast: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Matt Lucas, Jim Cummings, Julie Walters, Richard Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Dolly Parton, Hulk Hogan

Songs by: Elton John and Bernie Taupin

*Disclosure: I was provided free passes to an advanced screening of this movie.