Juliet & Romeo (2025) - Film Review

      Juliet & Romeo, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Timothy Scott Bogart.

      Starring Clara Rugaard, Jamie Ward, Jason Isaacs, Dan Fogler, Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett, Derek Jacobi, Lidia Vitale, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Nicholas Podany, Tayla Parx, Jim Sheridan, Dennis Andres, Rupert Graves, Jordan Clark Ledis, Martina Ortiz Luis, Lexie Coons, Clodagh Amira Sheridan, Max C. Parker, and Sara Lazzaro.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Inspired by the true story behind William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this film portrays the most famous love story of all time as an original pop musical.

      There is no compelling reason for Juliet & Romeo to exist. While the notion of an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, focusing more on Juliet, is initially intriguing, it quickly loses its appeal upon realizing that it has been done before. The same applies to writer/director Timothy Scott Bogart’s modernized approach, featuring contemporary language and incessant, overwhelming pop ballads, which mainly brings to mind Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of the story (which wasn't particularly successful either).

      Additionally, there are script elements seemingly crafted to mock the original text, not necessarily by drastically altering the plot (despite the poor execution of that as well), but rather by insulting Shakespeare’s poetic style, prose, and literary contributions. It’s not an overstatement to claim that this film disrespects everything Shakespeare achieved with Romeo & Juliet and its enduring legacy.

      To be clear, the Baz Luhrmann version is at least somewhat watchable. In contrast, nearly every moment of Juliet & Romeo is unbearable, completely devoid of emotion, character development, chemistry, and the escalating conflict between the Montagues and Capulets, replaced instead with grating autotuned original pop songs (by Evan Bogart and Justin Gray), paired with choreography and lyrics that don’t appear to grasp the essence of musicals.

      Romeo & Juliet resonates with themes of secrecy and yearning, which are ideal for musicals that traditionally express feelings through song and dance. In this case, we get an abundance of empty, hollow songs. This is almost fitting, since stars Clara Rugaard and Jamie Ward do not deliver genuine performances; it’s a classic scenario of two attractive individuals yearning for each other, yet lacking any spark or element to draw us into their romance. Storytelling and character depth are clearly afterthoughts here. Perhaps Timothy Scott Bogart assumes everyone is familiar with this tale, but that doesn’t justify neglecting crucial narrative components.

      The disappointingly poor music also affects the supporting cast, including Dan Fogler’s portrayal of the Apothecary. This number is intentionally designed to hint at a twist involving the star-crossed lovers, which becomes even more puzzling during the finale when the film presents it as if it’s meant to be shocking. It remains a mystery what the creators were thinking while making Juliet & Romeo.

      An adequate supporting cast (featuring recognizable actors like Rebel Wilson and Jason Isaacs) is squandered, with everyone dressed in amateurish costumes that resemble a failed cosplay effort. When tragedy strikes within each family due to the forbidden love between Julian and Romeo, it fails to evoke any emotional response. None of the characters are allowed to offer a unique or familiar interpretation, resulting in a cacophony of noise drowned out by relentless pop music.

      The only actor delivering a somewhat decent performance is Derek Jacoby as the friar aware of their love, mulling over how to assist them and whether the Montagues and Capulets could ever find peace and unite against the invading Roman Catholics. There is, admittedly, a certain entertainment value in how outrageously bad Juliet & Romeo is, resembling a film tainted from the very beginning.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.