Juliet and Romeo
From Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial 1968 film to Baz Luhrmann’s 90s take on the Shakespeare classic, Romeo and Juliet has been reinterpreted numerous times, each adaptation reflecting the trends and sensibilities of the era. With Juliet and Romeo, Timothy Scott Bogart reimagines the doomed lovers as all-singing, all-dancing anachronistic Zoomers in 14th-century Verona.
A musical dramedy, the film features a soundtrack of contemporary R&B power ballads courtesy of E Kidd Bogart. Playing the titular star-crossed lovers, Clara Rugaard and Jamie Ward show off their impressive singing prowess. The supporting cast also do a stellar job of holding show-stopping tunes, particularly Tayla Parx and Ledisi as Rosaline and Vesante, respectively.
Rugaard and Ward have great chemistry, playing the romance as more of a romcom will-they-won’t-they as opposed to kismet. Unlike previous versions, which portrayed Juliet as passive and meek, Rugaard does an admirable job of depicting the eponymous heroine as a headstrong young woman who’s far from a damsel in distress. Jason Isaacs and Rebel Wilson also imbue star power and presence as Lord Montague and Lady Capulet. Meanwhile, thespian Derek Jacobi is a delightful nod to the play’s traditionalist roots, gleefully chewing the scenery as The Friar.
While Luhrmann’s 1996 romp was a stylistically modern interpretation, Bogart’s film is unfortunately caught between two worlds. It’s a period piece that looks uncharacteristically modern, and the final product is a little unrealised. There’s also a lack of diversity in the arrangements of the original score. The songs don’t really define key scenes and characters; rather, they’re generic power ballads that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern chart playlist.
Nevertheless, there’s a twisty element that turns the tragedy on its head, and in turn prevents this from being a stale regurgitation. Moreover, Rugaard and Ward make incredibly likeable leads, and the film at the very least excels as an accessible lesson in the classics for a literature-averse young adult audience. A guilt-free, light-hearted sing-along, Juliet and Romeo is, ultimately, a fun Gen-Z spin on the Shakespearean tragedy.
Antonia Georgiou
Juliet and Romeo is released in select cinemas on 11th June 2025.
Watch the trailer for Juliet and Romeo here:
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