The movie follows young lovers Claudio, played by Sean Patrick Leonard (Dead Poets Society), and Hero, played by a young and meatier Kate Beckinsale (Van Helsing), as they prepare to wed and together with their friends try to turn a heated rivalry between Benedick, played by Branagh (Dead Again), and Beatrice, played by Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson (Angels in America), into romance.

I love the way this picture captivates the importance of a woman's social presentation during its time, setting and culture. Branagh has set the picture in Tuscany, but casts top English and American actors, and Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), in it without attempting Italian accents.

The film's conflicts occur when Hero's maiden-ism is challenged by rumor and deception. When this happens, her father is so upset, he would rather have her killed, since no man will marry a whore, thus making her useless to her father Leonato, played by an awesome Richard Briers (Mary Shelly's Frankenstein). It is cultural conflicts like this that make Shakespeare pictures interesting to me, but only if they're done in a modern delivery, like Branagh ensures his audience gets.

The acting in the picture, with the exception of Reeves, is dead on. Reeves gives us Shakespeare's version of "Bill and Ted." Branagh and Thompson are hilarious, which doesn't surprise me since they were still married at the time.

Beckinsale was a little stiff at times, and Leonard was a little over the top at times, but as Shakespeare performances go, they worked well together.

I also enjoyed seeing Oscar® winner Denzel Washington (Training Day) is a very big role as the regal and respective Don Pedro. Michael Keaton (Clean and Sober) also makes an appearance as the clown of the movie--as Shakespeare was always sure to include in his comedies; however, with the voice Keaton adapted to play Dogberry, the captain of the watch, it was very tough to understand him.

What makes the movie less than thrilling is the fact that it IS very much a Shakespeare comedy. Characters have motivations switching back and forth, resolutions and conflict appear and occur without set up. So, with that in mind, the picture does kind of get lame; however, because of the cast, the material is hilarious.

As a director Branagh makes sure his cast performs each line with the most modern day reading possible, cause he knows that's the only way Shakespeare lamens will understand and enjoy it.

Olivia would never perform Shakespeare without thrusting his chest out and standing as though he sat on a broom handle. Branagh knows how to get his cast to involve a MODERN audience and bring out the material's comedy in that way.

As a writer, Branagh pulled out all the most useful scenes from Shakespeare's original play to make this movie flow so much better than any comedy the Bard as ever written. Branagh is so much better an editor of Shakespeare material, than a writer.

Overall, this picture is light hearted, has a great cast, and doesn't lose you in the posh Shakespeare dialogue that turns most people away. Credit Branagh for that, rent "Much Ado About Nothing" and have a few giggles.