Much Ado About Nothing.

• Author: Rothenberg, Robert S.

The multi-talented Kenneth Branagh has stepped into the shoes of the illustrious Laurence Olivier in a seemingly effortless manner. Whereas Olivier brought Shakespeare's majestic historical figures - such as Hamlet, Othello, Richard III, and Henry V - to the screen with great spectacle and classical acting, Branagh's approach is to work close up and intimately, portraying the Bard's characters as real people, warts and all. His version of "Henry V" was bloody, sweaty, and gritty, contrasting sharply with Olivier's high-minded, ultra-patriotic rallying call to World War 11 England. In "Much Ado About Nothing," Branagh - in his tripartite role as star, director, and writer (adapting Shakespeare's play to the screen) - has shifted to a bright, pastoral approach, as befits a romantic comedy. The result is vastly entertaining, even for those who normally would shun a Shakespearean presentation, although his calculated decision to reach a wider audience may alienate some purists.

In contrast to Henry V," in which he surrounded himself with many of the finest British actors, all well-trained in the classics, in both leading and supporting roles, Branagh has taken dead aim at the U.S. market by casting a quartet of popular Americans in Much Ado." Their British counterparts - especially Branagh's Academy Award-winning wife, the enchanting Emma Thompson - have long track records of performing Shakespeare on the stage and fall into...