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A review by crankylibrarian
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
5.0
The Branagh movie rekindled my appreciation for this very witty play. I think of this as the "nice" version of Taming of the Shrew; the same battle of the sexes banter, except both parties end up giving a little and neither is totally humiliated or subjugated. The Dogsberry scenes leave me cold, and Hero and Claudio are in the running for Dullest Lovers in Shakespeare, but who could resist the reluctantly lovesick Benedict: "I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes". And
"I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is that not strange?" Yes, wondrously strange. And wonderful that this is a story of two former lovers who broke each other's hearts, and must conquer their mutual distrust before the happy ending. A mature Romeo and Juliet, no longer starry eyed, but old enough to know what they're doing and yet still fall rapturously in love.
"I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is that not strange?" Yes, wondrously strange. And wonderful that this is a story of two former lovers who broke each other's hearts, and must conquer their mutual distrust before the happy ending. A mature Romeo and Juliet, no longer starry eyed, but old enough to know what they're doing and yet still fall rapturously in love.