There were no lectures for this one and I heard about a third of it on audio in which I understood the premise and then I didn't get any further.
At around this time, I had a discussion with Missy about comedies. So far the comedies had not impressed. I felt that the tragedies and histories touched on the human condition and the histories also taught me a lot. The comedies were fluff although I had not much to go on since I've only watched Much Ado About Nothing, so far. I did rate Much Ado a 4 stars but I felt that was due to what the actors brought to the play and not what was in the play.
I got some context from Missy that helped frame it better. The comedies were meant for holidays, celebrations, revels. It put me in mind of the cozy Christmas murder mystery genre. And I might not love those but I do appreciate them for what they are.
The context for my watching this movie was that I was in a fancy hotel for work but with nothing to do for at least the next six hours, dinner DoorDashed in, and after some thought, dessert too. I haven't had such a day in a year so in other words...a revel? Add 0.5 points for the very appropriate situation. I believe it added much to my enjoyment.
I loved it. Most of all for what I like to say is 90s maximalist movie style. Romeo and Juliet was the same but less celebratory. There were flowers and fruits everywhere, even in places where they shouldn't be.
Extras packed into every corner.
It felt very Michael Kinkade:
Little side story arcs that were there just for the fun of it like the fairy folk that were just openly stealing things with no explanation given.
The color is so warm, the people look a little orange. And there's this style of lighting that was used to indicate fantasy or etherealness.
The Neverending Story was of this type of movie too from around the same time.
And Shakespeare often does music as magic (Ariel's singing comes to mind) and the sentiment of that touched me too.
Shoutout to this one guy who we never get an explanation for:
I did briefly wonder if it was leftover costuming from Star Wars.
For the life of me, I can't tell you who was with who and who ended up with who. (There were three female H names. And here I have to pause and apologize to Sarah J Maas who I harangued for doing the same thing because if Shakespeare did it, I guess she gets a pass.) I wasn't super invested but I was glad that the right people all ended up together. That's what I want my fun, cozy, holiday movie to be like.
By now I wasn't surprised as perhaps Donnie was about the raunchiness of the whole thing. I've watched enough Shakespeare to not be surprised. But I did have to ask Missy if I was understanding the whole dog metaphor right. I'm not terribly surprised that it was meant to be kinky, just a little surprised that nothing in human psychology is realllyyy modern.
I have in both in Much Ado and now in Midsummer, very much enjoyed the silly comedic side arc. This surprises me because silly used to rarely amuse me but clearly I've started to gain an appreciation. As in Much Ado, I think the actors brought something poignant to their roles that wasn't written into the text. Bottom is annoying and yet, I felt for him when he was being bullied because he does seem to know he doesn't quite fit in. The whole angle of this ragtag group being nervous about acting in front of the king was also poignant as well as how they ended that play so sincerely. I surprisingly laughed at the stupid wall joke and when there was brick behind the window instead of moonlight. The dog also made me laugh. When they all wandered off arm in arm at the end, I felt the warmth of friendship and achievement too. I liked the meta of a play in a play.
I am looking forward to the comedies much more now. Two in a row have been very good.
Onwards. There is a poem break next.
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