Gnomeo and JulietRated G
Like many kids, your son is Mr. Independent. He refuses help on every project, whether it’s homework, hobbies or chores. But when he decides to build a treehouse — by himself — he discovers he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Still, he insists on completing the project alone.
You keep an eye on his progress from behind the kitchen curtains. It’s hard not to step in when his creation sags, then drops to the ground, yet again. As the day turns to dusk, your son admits defeat. The next day, you offer, once more, to help. This time, your son accepts your offer. By day’s end, he has a sturdy new treehouse to enjoy.
He learns that, together, we can accomplish a lot more than we can apart. It’s a lesson learned, as well, by the feuding yard gnomes in “Gnomeo and Juliet,” now available on DVD. Watch it with your family and use our Talk Together ideas to start a discussion about cooperation. Then, play “Team Us!” from our Play Together activity to show how teaming up can bring success.
Based loosely on Shakespeare’s classic play, “Gnomeo and Juliet” features gnomes from warring “families” who live next door to each other. Like their cranky homeowners, they look for any opportunity to “one-up” their nemeses. They race lawn mowers, spray-paint graffiti on each other’s homes, and lob insults at one another.
But when blue gnome Gnomeo meets the beautiful Juliet, who is from the family of red gnomes, he is smitten. Despite their differences, the two sneak off to spend time together, with help from Featherstone, a one-legged pink plastic flamingo.
The war heats up when the blue gnomes attack the red family with a super lawnmower called the Terrafirminator. The monster machine goes berserk and begins destroying everything in both families’ gardens. The gnomes soon realize they must work together to restore their homes — something that would be nearly impossible on their own. The feud is ended, and Gnomeo and Juliet marry with both their families present.
Talk together
We never learn why the gnomes hate each other — and some of them don’t seem to know why, either. What are some of the negative effects of their fighting? How does it nearly cost Juliet her life?
Gnomeo doesn’t know that Juliet is a red gnome when he first meets her. How does he discover her true identity? How does this affect his feelings for her? What do you think would have happened if he told his mother about Juliet right away?
Why does Benny order the Terrafirminator online? When does he realize he made a mistake in purchasing the mower?
What makes Lord Redbrick, Juliet’s father, and Lady Blueberry, Gnomeo’s mother, decide to end their long-standing feud? How do the gnomes react? What happens when they decide to work together, rather than against each other?
Play together: Team us!
You will need:
• Blindfolds
• Obstacle course items, such as a Hula Hoop, jump rope and bell
Head outside to an open area where you can set up an obstacle course. Some ideas for the course are: have players crawl through the Hula Hoop, walk along a jump rope on the ground and ring a bell.
Do not let players see the course before the game begins. Pair players up and blindfold one player on each team. Explain to players that they will have to help their blindfolded partner maneuver through the obstacle course using only spoken instructions — no hands-on help allowed!
Time teams as they attempt to go through the course as quickly (and as safely) as possible. Mix up the course and let blindfolded players try to get through the course by themselves with no guidance. They will see the difference it makes to work together to accomplish a goal.Missed a Cinematters column? Visit us at Facebook.com/Cinematters and read recent articles for your family’s next film adventure! © 2011, Cinematters.
