re2mgcv(formula, data)

library(buildmer)
re <- re2mgcv(temp ~ angle + (1|replicate) + (1|recipe),lme4::cake)
model <- buildgam(re$formula,re$data,family=mgcv::scat)
# note: the below does NOT work, as the dependent variable is looked up in the data by name!

re <- re2mgcv(log(Reaction) ~ Days + (Days|Subject),lme4::sleepstudy)