Timothy Scott Bogart’sJuliet & Romeois a colorful reimagining of one ofWilliam Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. As the name suggests, this isn’t a one-for-one adaptation ofRomeo & Juliet, nor is it a modernized adaptation of the Bard’s tale, likeBaz Luhrmann’s cult classicRomeo + Juliet.The film also stands in opposition to the current trend in Hollywood, where musicals conceal the fact that they are musicals right up until the moment they have a captive audience in the theater.Juliet & Romeois unashamed of its musicality— and sometimes it’s to its detriment.
Romeo & Julietis a tough play to crack in these modern times, where it may be easy to disregard the fact that Shakespeare’s play isas much a romance as it is a tragedy.Juliet & Romeo, however, hasn’t forgotten the romantic elements, and it takes them to new levels as the star-crossed lovers steal away for romantic interludes and heated kisses.Their romance feels more like the historical romances that were rife throughout the mid-aughts, when Hollywood’s moviemakers weren’t afraid to have their leads kiss and make audiences swoon, almost like a distant cousin toA Knight’s Tale.
Romeo and Juliet Are Star-Crossed, and ‘Juliet & Romeo’ Is Star-Studded
Juliet & Romeoessentially follows the same narrative as Shakespeare’s play, with a few deviations along the way. Rather than retreading the oft-quoted lines, the film takes liberties with its dialogue, turning most of the iconic prose into upbeat songs that prioritize rhyme over reason. The music is fun and catchy in the moment, but none of the songs really possess the necessary hook to have audiences humming them on the drive home. The catchiest of the lot are “Better Than This,” “Streets on Fire,” and “I Should Write This Down.” The latter of which feels like an ode to scatterbrained creatives who have brilliant ideas that they really should write down. Notably, the three most memorable tracks are not sung by the titular Juliet (Clara Rugaard) and Romeo (JamieWard), who are relegated to paltry power ballads that underserve their romance.
Juliet & Romeo’s young ensemble is composed of relatively “unknown” actors, at least to the wider moviegoing audience. Ward’s Romeo, is an accomplished theater actor, who gained a lot of traction for his portrayal of Marius inLes Misérablesduring his 2013 West End run, andhe brings some of that Marius-like quality to Romeoas he stands at the precipice between fighting alongside his family and friends and running away with his true love.
Jason Isaacs Is Ready to Psychoanalyze You
“Many of the best parts I’ve ever played, I was not the first choice for it.”
The rest of Bogart’s cast is a true who’s-who of (primarily) British talent. Romeo’s parents, Lord and Lady Montague, are portrayed byJasonIsaacsandLidiaVitale. Isaacs taps into what he knows best here as a surly, disapproving father who wants better for his son, and he’s clearly having fun with his performance. Juliet’s parents, Lord and Lady Capulet, are brought to life byRupertEverettandRebelWilson(who seems miscast, despite herPitch Perfectroots). The most memorable performances can be credited toDerekJacobi(the Friar) andDanFogler(the Apothecary), who is the most aware of the precise brand of movie they are in. There’s an air of camp to their scenes, and that campiness is precisely why “I Should Write This Down” is such a banger.RupertGraves, who plays Verona’s ruler, Prince Escalus, is another noteworthy performance — particularly in the final act.
The younger ensemble is rounded outNicholasPodany(Mercutio),Ferdia Walsh-Peelo(Tybalt),Tayla Parx(Rosaline),MartinaOrtizLuis(Veronica),MaxParker(Benvolio), andAlexGrech(Tommaso), who get a surprising amount of screentime, given how focused the film is on Juliet and Romeo’s story.The fight sequences between Mercutio and Tybalt prove to be quite entertaining, especially since they are very much staged like a musical with larger-than-life performances.
‘Juliet & Romeo’ Forgoes Shakespeare and Embraces Itself
There’s an old adage in the theater that good costumes can turn a middling play into a great play, and there’s an element of that here inJuliet & Romeo. As much as the titular characters are undercut by their unremarkable solos and duets, and hindered by the somewhat awkward dialogue, their performances are greatly improved by the sumptuous costumes and the awe-inspiring set designs.Bogart knows how to put on a good show, and he knows how to dazzle audiences with bright, colorful costumes and eye-catching scenery.Juliet & Romeobrings the very best elements of stagecraft onto the screen, which leads one to wonder if this musical would be better served with an intermission, overpriced wine, a dish of Häagen-Dazs, and the gilded proscenium.
As aRomeo & Julietadaptation, Bogart misses the mark, but as a storyinspiredbythe Bard,Juliet & Romeomarches to the beat of its own drum. This isn’t a tragedy in fair Verona, this is a panto-ish hopepunk extravaganza, where the star-crossed lovers get to live out their happily ever after, and that is perhaps the most surprising part of this story. Not only is this notthe end of their story — it’s not the end ofJuliet & Romeoeither. As the star-crossed lovers reach their newly rewritten happy ending, the credits begin with a title card that promises that their story will continue in “Book Two,” seemingly teasing that Bogart hopes to put out another dazzling musical.
Juliet & Romeoisn’t necessarily agoodfilm, but it is a very fun film, and there are far too few films that seem content in simply entertaining for the sake of entertainment. It’s the perfect film for anyone who yearns for the nostalgia of good-bad films likeA Knight’s TaleandElla Enchanted, with all the melodrama ofTristan & Isolde.Juliet & Romeosits amidst a dying breed of movie that will undoubtedly become some preteen’s guilty pleasure watch.
Juliet & Romeois now in theaters.
Juliet & Romeo
A delightfully messy adaptation of the bard’s most iconic work.
Juliet & Romeo is a 2025 reimagining of the classic love story set in 1301, at the end of Medieval times. This film introduces original pop music, transforming Shakespeare’s iconic narrative while revealing historical truths that shape the future of the Empire.
