The reviews are coming in for Gnomeo and Juliet, and it may be better than expected:
In truth the movie almost works as an Elton musical, as hits like ‘Your Song’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’ are weaved into the score by composers Chris Bacon and James Newton Howard. John and partner David Furnish are producers and appear to have called in a few favours by getting their celeb chums to do the voice work (Michael Caine, Matt Lucas, Ozzy Osbourne). Director Kelly Asbury adeptly conjures up a sweet romance between the star-crossed pair Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt). Blunt is particularly feisty as the girl gently rebelling against her well-meaning but overprotective father Lord Redbrick (Caine). And props to whichever of the nine hacks gave her the line “Ooh, my giddy aunt!”
I don’t get the “giddy aunt” reference.
I think this particular reviewer, who ultimately gives the movie 3 out of 5 stars, comes at it from the wrong angle. He compares it to Zeffirelli and Luhrmann, and that it is “not even close to being the definitive movie version.” Umm….YA THINK?
[ Why do I care so much about this movie? ]
Possibly praising "My giddy aunt" 'cos it's such a very English expression of surprise. Interesting stuff on the phrase here, incl. refs. to Shakespeare:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/my-giddy-aunt.html
Like you, dream of world where Shakespeare is part of general popular culture – fingers crossed for Gnomeo, but no holding of breath!