As You Like It (2006)

As You Like It may not be the worst play he ever wrote, but Branagh and Kline would have been better off making A Fish Called Wanda 2. This movie is a presentation of a Shakespearean comedy, set in Japan. The story is of a group of banished society types who end up finding love in the forest of Arden, and everything works out wonderfully in the end. The problem with this movie is something that unfortunately could not be changed by anyone involved in it. As You Like It is simply one of Shakespeare's more ridiculous and boring comedies. I was actually in this play in high school, so I feel that I have a pretty good grasp on it, but to me, this play pushes the line between a willing suspension of disbelief and just plain stupid. The movie was quite well done and quite well acted, which actually leaves me quite conflicted. Everything is great about it except for the story, which no one is responsible for creating. The director, Kenneth Branagh does a terrific job. The only decision that I was not thrilled about was the one to set the movie in Japan. I prefer a more traditional interpretation of Shakespeare, but the rest of the film was done appropriately. The acting in this movie is phenomenal, especially Kevin Kline. He is far and away one of the two best Shakespearean actors of a generation. The only thing that was lacking was that I wish Branagh, the other great Shakespearean, had actually been in the movie. I read a review that compared this to Branagh's Hamlet, but that is not really fair. Obviously As You Like It cannot compare to Hamlet; Hamlet is one of the greatest plays ever written, whereas As You Like It is just a side note. For heaven's sake, there even oddly homosexual undertones throughout the forest scenes when Rosalind is pretending to be Ganymede. My wife had no interest in this movie, and I do not blame her. I tried really hard to like this movie, but am forced to give As You Like It only 2 stars.