Based on the real story that inspired Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, follows the greatest love story of all time, set as an original pop musical.
Director: Timothy Scott Bogart
Cast: Jamie Ward, Clara Rugaard, Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett, Jason Isaacs, Derek Jacobi, Dan Fogler, Ledisi, Tayla Parx, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Rupert Graves
Release Date: May 9, 2025 US/ June 11, 2025 UK One Night Only
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Rated PG-13 for some violence, bloody images and suggestive material.
Runtime: 2h 1m
Review:
Timothy Scott Bogart's ambitious retelling of the "real" story of Romeo and Juliet is a visual feast for the eyes and ears especially if you enjoy original pop musicals. Bogart's film takes the classic Shakespeare play as its baseline, hitting on the major points of the story although it’s not slavishly tethered to it. Those looking for a more straight forward adaptation of the story has ample other options to explore by this point with this production attempting to do something different, akin to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet from 1996. This take is a full-on musical from start to finish filled with original pop songs that make up the lion's share of the film's narrative. Jamie Ward and Clara Rugaard make for a likeable duo onscreen with impressive vocal talents to boot which makes their sequences pop off the screen. Those musical numbers serve the film's lifeblood as every bit of energy is poured into each production's lavish outfitting, staging and choreography. They provide the best kind of assault on the senses as the lavish costuming and easy to enjoy tunes fill the screen like cinematic confetti. The film does suffer a noticeable lag between the musical numbers as the more traditional scenes serviceably move the narrative along but lack the energy of what came before and after. Additionally, there is a bit of recalibration required as the script switches from Shakespearean style dialogue to a more modern spoken word throughout the film's runtime. It’s an odd balancing act since the film is filmed in a real portion of Verona and the costuming as set it firmly in the 1300's while the songs and majority of the dialogue are clearly products of the present. It takes a bit to get acclimated to mix and match approach which makes the transitions a bit clunkier than need be. The aforementioned Ward and Rugaard power through it all with impressive enthusiasm and energy as they pour themselves into their performances. Ward brings a brash, self-assured aura to his Romeo which softens when his character is around Rugaard's Juliet. Rugaard's exudes a strong, self-assured confidence that gives their relationship more of an even balance than most adaptations. Surrounding them are a bevy of recognizable character actors such as Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett, Jason Isaacs, Derek Jacobi and Dan Fogler playing older characters who do the best they can in their limited screentime. Derek Jacobi leaves the biggest impression as the well-intentioned Friar who sets off the action in the finale. There are some surprises that pop up in Juliet & Romeo's final act which could lead to some intriguing narratives since this film kicks off a trilogy of films.
B+
