Movie Show Review: Juliet & Romeo is a bold expression of a beloved story
May 9, 2025, 7:00 AM | Updated: 9:17 am
Juliet and Romeo movie poster.
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SALT LAKE CITY — No, I’m not dyslexic, at least I don’t believe I am. “Juliet & Romeo” is the actual title, which you’ll discover is not the only thing that’s different about this movie.
It’s a new world, with a new way of looking at old things. This is not your granddaddy’s Shakespeare. There’s a new playwright in town and he’s here to shake things up a bit.
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In that light, I’m required to inform you, that this is a musical. People don’t like it when you forget to tell them a particular movie is, in fact, a musical. So here it is again. THIS IS A MUSICAL. You have been forewarned.
And of course, the follow-up question is always – well, is it a good musical, like “The Greatest Showman?” Hmmm. I’d say it’s more like a poor man’s Greatest Showman.
There are a handful of memorable songs. “I’ll Never be the Same” and “Will I Find Myself” were catchy tunes, but the beauty of this beast is if you don’t like a certain melody, give it a minute and a new one will be along shortly. Bottomline: they sing a lot.
Essentially, and I use that word loosely, the story is basically the same. We are placed in 1301 Verona, Italy. The Capulets and the Montagues are the big, controlling families. Juliet (Clara Rugaard) has just returned home, not realizing she is to become a marriage pawn in the game of life to some princely foreigner.
Romeo (Jamie Ward) is the roguishly handsome son of Lord Montague (Jason Isaacs) who is bored with dating the same old fair maidens of the land, until he spots Juliet – and as the story goes, the stars align. Sigh.
Oh and you can forget that Iambic Pentameter “silliness” (a dozen Shakespearean professors just fainted). This is a modern conversation still set in Medieval times, much like a “Knight’s Tale” with a slew of pop music cues and a dash of today’s sensibilities (an oxymoron if there ever was one).
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And while there is chemistry between the two leads, we also have some interesting background players to spice things up. For instance, aside from “White Lotus” star Jason Isaacs, Rebel Wilson plays Juliet’s mom. Yes, you read that right. She’s mommy dearest in this story. My, my, it feels like just yesterday, she was singing with the Bellas in college. Oh how Hollywood time flies.
We also have the great British thespian Sir Derek Jacobi playing Friar Lawrence, who has done a ton of “real” Shakespeare. I wonder if he’ll have to return his knighthood after this?
Many other chances are taken in this classic tale with a fresh coat of paint. Whether you like the new color palette or not will be up to you. I personally found it to be an interesting, bold expression of a beloved story, to which I say, why not?
The tagline for this film is – “The greatest love story of all time, set to the greatest music of our time.” Admittedly, at least half of that might actually be correct.
JULIET & ROMEO (B) Rated PG-13 for some violence, bloody images and suggestive material. Starring Clara Rugaard, Jamie Ward, Jason Isaacs, Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett and Derek Jacobi. Written and directed by Timothy Scott Bogart (“Spinning Gold” “Touched”) – filmed at Castell’Arquato, Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Running time: 121 minutes.
