A film adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy about lovers whose romantic affections are manipulated by fairy magic. The setting is updated to a Tuscan hill town in the late 19th century.
Unfortunately, despite the wonderful locations, sets, costumes, and strong acting, this adaptation has a strange lack of magic or chemistry between players.
– Paul Clinton (CNN.com),
CNN.com,
23 Jun 2002
rotten:
The film is never a chore to watch, but others have done better by the Bard.
– Jeff Strickler,
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
6 Nov 2002
fresh:
If there is sacrilege afoot, I'm not enough of a scholar to spot it.
– Jeff Millar,
Houston Chronicle,
21 Jul 2005
rotten:
Injecting the film with fun and pathos, Kline makes a superb Bottom; it's his play and he acts it to the hilt.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
rotten:
I remain skeptical about the ability of even the best American actors to read Shakespeare's lines without giving the impression that they are enduring very painful cultural root canal work.