"Gnomeo & Juliet" was one of two 3D movies to open this past weekend. It didn't rake in as much as Justin Bieber (review of that coming soon), but it certainly managed to attract plenty of talent. The film includes the voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Stephen Merchant, Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters, Hulk Hogan, and Ozzy Osbourne.

At first glance, I couldn't fathom how a movie about garden gnomes could nab such cast. Was it the mushrooms? It actually probably has a lot more to do with Elton John, who scored the film and also serves as executive producer.

However, more surprising than the lineup is that the film doesn't appear to be half-bad. A little over 50 percent of the reviews were positive, which is way more than anyone could have ever expected. (No, really... did you see THIS?) The 3D conversion, however, didn't fare as well. When does it ever?   

Here is what Touchstone Pictures says:
Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of James McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Emily Blunt) 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 lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Here is what reviewers say:

"For adults, Gnomeo & Juliet lacks wit, but the gnomes, artfully chipped and scratched, have a nifty 3-D tactility, and the title duo makes for an off-kilter pair of romantic action figures." - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"The garden-variety results, including the nothing-special 3D, should likely still bring in a decent crowd, capitalizing on the scarcity of new family-appropriate product in the current Oscar-courting marketplace." - Michael Rechstshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

"On its own relatively modest terms, Gnomeo & Juliet succeeds in creating a fully imagined world, albeit one that would have been more enjoyable, and easier to take in, without the indifferent 3D rendering it receives here." - Justin Chang, Variety

[Photo: © Miramax Film NY, LLC. All Rights Reserved.]