Film Review: Much ado about nothing

Director: Kenneth Branagh

A 1993 romantic comedy based on the play by the famous Williams Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh is renowned for his adaptions of Shakespeare's work into plays and films with other such as Henry V, Othello and Hamlet. He also stars as Benedick who is a noblemen in this film. The film features an ensemble cast including Denzel Washington, Robert Sean Leonard, Richard Briers, Emma Thompson and Keanu Reeves to name just a few.

The prince Don Pedro (Denzel Washington) and his noblemen are visiting their good friend Leonato (Richard Briers) in Messina after having quashed the uprising led by Don John (Keanu Reeves), the prince's bastard half-brother. The noblemen include Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) who both find themselves smitten with Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Hero (Kate Beckinsale) respectively. The devious plan of Don John and his men to ensure the marriage between Claudio and Benedick doesn't happen throws everything into chaos.

The galliant men return

Fair to point out at this stage I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare, probably the years of having it rammed down my throat at school in my youth. The story here is slightly frustrating as you just want to scream at the characters to actually talk to each other to solve the problems they are facing with the wedding, but this aside its a light enjoyable film. Branagh does a good job of making this film reasonably accessible beyond some of the Shakespearean language that is used by the cast.

The cast itself is extremely impressive in parts with Branagh himself being the stand out performer which is not surprising but there were a few odd choices with Keanu Reeves being the obvious one. Reeves acting is not strong at the best of times and here against a strong film cast backed up by Shakespearean actors he just looks out of his depth and out of place, it was a strange choice to say the least. There was some criticism for casting Michael Keaton as Dogberry but I think he is the funniest character in the film alongside his partner Verges (Ben Elton).

3/4 Much fun and impressive cast but slightly simplistic plot