Juliet & Romeo

“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
While Juliet searches for her Romeo, we as an audience are never searching long for another version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. There have been over 34 feature film versions of the story, and surely many more to come. But unlike most remakes or reboots, each version of this story tends to carry the distinct fingerprints of the artist behind it. The tale might be familiar, but the way it’s told often changes — and that’s definitely the case with Timothy Scott Bogart’s Juliet & Romeo. Based on the real story that supposedly inspired Shakespeare’s original play. And this version does more than reverse the names to stand out.

Everyone knows the story — most of us read it in school. But in case you need a refresher: the story is set in Verona, around 1301. The town is on the verge of being taken over by the Roman Catholic Church, and two ruling families — the Montagues and the Capulets — are fighting for control. Despite their hatred for each other, the youngest Montague, Romeo (Jamie Ward), meets and falls for Juliet (Clara Rugaard) daughter of the Capulet family. What follows is a trail of tragedy, including the deaths of many, ending with both lovers.

That’s the classic version, however, Juliet & Romeo is not your parents’ adaptation. Bogart makes some bold choices — characters break into pop songs (some of which are surprisingly catchy, thanks to Grammy-winner E. Kidd Bogart), and the plot takes creative liberties. The film feels like a modern reimagining tailor-made for a new generation — something every era seems to get with this story.

Written by Timothy Scott Bogart, Juliet & Romeo isn’t heavy on dialogue. He ditches the original text and uses modern language instead, delivered in short bursts that often lead into musical numbers. Some of the songs work well, but the frequent musical breaks take away from the emotional weight and urgency of the story. The music leans very pop-heavy, which suits the romance, but at times strips away the danger and consequences behind their forbidden love. This isn’t a brooding, emo take — so leave your tissues at home.

Visually, Juliet & Romeo is impressive. The set design is elaborate and clearly crafted with care. But while it looks beautiful, the emotional heart of the love story gets lost in the filmmaker’s choices. Rugaard and Ward are solid in their roles — they sing well and have some chemistry. The supporting cast brings energy too, so on paper, this had the ingredients for something much stronger. Unfortunately, the direction gets in the way, with awkward camera placement — especially noticeable in the sword fights and dance scenes.

There’s definitely an audience for Juliet & Romeo — it has enough flash and modern flair to connect with some viewers. But for me, the negatives outweighed the positives. I found myself tapping my foot to some of the songs, sure, but in the end, this version of the world’s most famous tragic love story is, well, tragically far from my favorite.