Juliet & Romeo Review: Musical Twist on a Shakespearean Classic
Theatrical Movie Review - Musical
The Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” might not be his best work, but it is almost certainly his most well-known. Literature classes all over the world study this romantic tragedy. It has been adapted numerous times for film, and now there is a new adaptation from writer and director Timothy Scott Bogart titled Juliet & Romeo. This time, it is a musical adaptation, combining the classic Shakespearean language with modern pop songs.
This version follows the story faithfully, with a good bit of the dialogue being straight from the play. Romeo (Jamie Ward) and Juliet (Clara Rugaard) meet and immediately fall in love, despite their warring families. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet (Rebel Wilson), and Romeo’s father, Lord Montague (Jason Isaacs), both warn their children that they cannot wed due to the familial conflict, but with the help of Friar Lawrence (Derek Jacobi) and the Nurse (Sara Lazzaro), Romeo and Juliet find a way to be together.
The thing about adapting a piece of literature like this is that it starts with something incredibly solid. As such, Juliet & Romeo is compelling at the most basic level. And there are aspects of this that are interesting. The issue of how important a name is or is not is one that has always been a part of the story, but this adaptation explores that in a deeper way through the character of Mercutio (Nicholas Podany). The idea that your name shouldn’t define who you are has always been clear, but here, he explores how a name can give you a sense of belonging. It was an interesting counterpoint to the “wherefore art thou Romeo” line that has always been the focal point of the play.
The music throughout Juliet & Romeo is interesting, as this is where the play is modernized the most. While the music is largely forgettable, for an audience that may struggle with the archaic language, the songs offer a touchpoint, allowing people to follow the story with a bit more ease. The musical numbers are also filmed in a way that enables the energy to come through well.
The bulk of the film comes together, but the conceit of this film is that it’s about the “true story” that “Romeo and Juliet” was based on, which means that there are a few changes to the original story. While a number of Shakespeare’s plays have been brought to film in ways that sometimes make it difficult to see the original work, this one is close enough that the changes are glaring. And these changes absolutely did not work.
Each generation seems to have its own adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet.” For people my age, it was the Baz Luhrmann Romeo + Juliet version. It’s a timeless story that has continued to be popular across many centuries. I don’t know that Juliet & Romeo will be that for a new generation, but it is a valiant attempt. It just should have let the story speak for itself.
Rating 2.5/5
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on May 11, 2025.
Check out my interview with Romeo actor Jamie Ward.