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'Romeo and Juliet' lacks heat and romance

( PG-13 ) ( Monitor Movie Guide )

'Romeo and Juliet' actors Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth are too bland in the newest version of Shakespeare's play.

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Philippe Antonello/Relativity Media/AP
Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld in a scene from 'Romeo and Juliet.'
  • By Peter Rainer Film critic

What can you say about a 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� that lacks heat, romance, eroticism, or lyricism? Mercifully, not much. Carlo Carlei鈥檚 version of Shakespeare鈥檚 warhorse never leaves the barn. Streamlined (i.e., dumbed down) by screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has seen better days with 鈥淕osford Park鈥� and 鈥淒ownton Abbey,鈥� this adaptation will probably turn off the young audiences for whom it was apparently intended.

Hailee Steinfeld鈥檚 Juliet is rather lovely and rather bland; Douglas Booth鈥檚 Romeo might have stepped out of a special Renaissance Faire edition of GQ. Grade: C- (Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements.)

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