(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) Superficial or swoonworthy? Actually, Carlo Carlei’s traditional take on “Romeo and Juliet” is both. He and screenwriter Julian Fellowes seem determined to offer up starter Shakespeare for the “Twilight” generation.Adults may notice that Hailee Steinfeld’s wide-eyed Juliet lacks crucial maturity, or that Douglas Booth’s square-jawed Romeo would be more at home in an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) And given that pop culture has already seen indelible adaptations ranging from Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 Oscar winner to Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 provocation, this edition seems surprisingly subdued.In 16th-century Verona, romance blooms, on first sight, between our star-crossed lovers. She’s a Capulet, he’s a Montague, and — just like, say, humans and vampires — the two clans are violent and bitter enemies. Forgive the spoiler, but things may not end well.

The gorgeous Italian palazzos and gardens nicely set off several strong performances from the grownups. Damian Lewis of “Homeland” is especially deft as Juliet’s dad. Lesley Manville makes a delightful Nurse. And Paul Giamatti invites all our empathy as the Friar whose plans go awry.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) Regrettably, the more confident performances also highlight what’s missing: Romeo’s passion, Juliet’s awakening and any depth of delivery from either lead.But young viewers, who can relate to the innocent heroine and her crush on gorgeous Romeo, may not even notice. Carlei keeps the pacing up and Fellowes (an Oscar winner for “Gosford Park”) makes the language accessible even to those who’ve never heard — or read — it before.This version is never rough, nor rude, nor boisterous, but for first-timers, perhaps wisely and slow is the way to go. There will be time enough for them to discover cinema’s superior adaptations anon.

While there is a pleasantness about this faithful Shakespearean reboot, there also is some woeful miscasting and a lukewarm feeling about the straightforward production.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) Hailee Steinfeld is miscast as Juliet. So good as a feisty young girl in True Grit, there is a modern-day cheerfulness about her that doesn't work when playing a Renaissance-era star-crossed lover. She recites her lines with warmth and sweetness, but also too hurriedly, and with an innocent nonchalance that belies the headstrong passion of the character. Director Carlo Carlei awkwardly introduces her to the audience in a drawn-out, beaming close-up that seems better suited to a toothpaste commercial.

Douglas Booth as Romeo is more skilled in the passionate intonation department, intensified by his beautifully chiseled face. But his charisma is more akin to that of a fashion model than an actor. Physically He bears a striking resemblance to Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo in Franco Zeffirelli's sumptuous and definitive 1968 version.

Not well matched physically (she looks younger than her 15 years and he appears older than his 20) or in their delivery and cadence, Steinfeld and Booth display only intermittent chemistry. Worse, their climactic romantic scenes are merely pallid.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) Paul Giamatti steals the movie as the helpful, world-weary Friar Laurence. Giamatti (who seems to be in every third movie these days, including last week's Parkland and next week's 12 Years a Slave) delivers his lines with wit, compassion and wisdom, bringing sly new life to a central character determined to assist the lovers, despite their feuding families

Others do not fare as well. Ed Westwick looks like he's wearing a Severus Snape wig as Tybalt and Christian Cooke is lackluster as Mercutio.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) The screenplay was adapted from the Bard by Downton Abbey's brilliant creator Julian Fellowes. He's on much more fertile ground when fashioning early 20th century Masterpiece Theater fare than tweaking a well-loved classic. Unlike Baz Luhrmann's audacious re-working in his 1996 Romeo + Juliet, or West Side Story, which used Shakespeare's play as inspiration, Fellowes' script doesn't bring anything new to the famous tale of tragic teen lovers. This re-telling hews closer to Zeffirelli's turf, at least geographically (though it lacks anything remotely as moving as Nino Rota's lovely musical score). Fellowes returns the tale to its Verona setting, which makes for gorgeous Italian scenery and stunning production design. Those visuals elements, along with Carl Poggioli's elegant costumes, gives it a vivid storybook quality.

But none of that is enough to distinguish this tepid incarnation.

What made Zeffirelli's production soar was the superb casting of Whiting and Olivia Hussey and their believably intense ardor. Booth and Steinfeld don't strike enough sparks to make us care, even when their tragic end comes.

As for the feuding Montagues and Capulets, swordplay abounds, but it feels stagy and static.

(Watch Romeo and Juliet Online) Romeo & Juliet is an uneven, albeit handsomely mounted, adaptation. But it's a forgettable entry among the dozens of movie adaptations of Shakespeare's tragic romance.