The lovely Hermia is to wed Demetrius, but she truly cares for Lysander. Hermia's friend, Helena, is in love with Demetrius, while other romantic entanglements abound in the woods, with married fairy rulers Titania and Oberon toying with various lovers and each other.
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.
– Andrew Sarris,
New York Observer,
27 Apr 2007
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
fresh:
If there is sacrilege afoot, I'm not enough of a scholar to spot it.
– Jeff Millar,
Houston Chronicle,
21 Jul 2005
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
rotten:
Unfortunately, despite the wonderful locations, sets, costumes, and strong acting, this adaptation has a strange lack of magic or chemistry between players.