Gnom-ance over the garden fence

Shakespeare’s tale of star-cross’d lovers and self-sacrifice is given a new lick of paint in Kelly Asbury’s fast-paced computer animated comedy.

Set in the gardens of fair Verona Drive, Gnomeo & Juliet pits feuding clans of blue and red ornaments against one another, set to a soundtrack of classic and original songs by Elton John, who is also the film’s executive producer.

High-speed lawnmower chases involving a beast of a machine called the Terrafirminator are juxtaposed with the first meeting of the eponymous lovers, set to a smoochy ballad.

Gnomeo (McAvoy) is a blue, living on one side of the drive with mischievous sidekick Benny (Lucas) and his mute best pal, Shroom.

His mother, Lady Blueberry (Smith), keeps a close eye on the ceramic bunnies overrunning her lawn as well as on her rival Lord Redbrick (Caine), who presides over the garden next door.

He is determined to protect feisty daughter Juliet (Blunt).

A chance encounter between Gnomeo and Juliet sows the seeds of true love, but her bully cousin Tybalt (Statham), would rather mow down a blue than see the two families united.

Some gags are recycled from the screenwriters’ compost heap but we root for the pint-sized central characters, right up to the madcap, overblown finale.