Don Pedro (Denzel Washington) and his men along with the villainous Don John (Keanu Reeves) visit his friend Leonato. Don John is the prince Don Pedro's bastard half-brother. Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) spars with Leonato's niece Beatrice (Emma Thompson). Young Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) is in love with Leonato's daughter Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and plans to wed. Dogberry (Michael Keaton) is the lead night watch constable. Don Pedro tries to entice Benedick and Beatrice together, and Don John tries to disrupt the wedding. In the end, it's much ado about nothing.
Kenneth Branagh has created a fun frolic in Shakespeare. Branagh and Thompson have combative fun. Leonard and Beckinsale are fine as puppy love especially Beckinsale. Washington is solid. The only sour note is played by Keanu Reeves. He is simply not capable of playing the antagonist. Luckily, he's not in the movie that much. The stuffy Shakespeare is given new life in this movie.
Kenneth Branagh has created a fun frolic in Shakespeare. Branagh and Thompson have combative fun. Leonard and Beckinsale are fine as puppy love especially Beckinsale. Washington is solid. The only sour note is played by Keanu Reeves. He is simply not capable of playing the antagonist. Luckily, he's not in the movie that much. The stuffy Shakespeare is given new life in this movie.