Watch Love's Labour's Lost

Love's Labour's Lost is a 2000 film adaptation of the classic play by William Shakespeare, directed by Kenneth Branagh. The movie features an all-star cast of young actors, including Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone, and Natascha McElhone. The film tells the story of the King of Navarre and his three friends, Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine, who make a collective vow to forswear women for three years and devote themselves to academic study. However, their plans are upended when the Princess of France and her three ladies arrive on a diplomatic mission, throwing the men's resolve into disarray.

As the King and his friends struggle to maintain their oath, they find themselves falling in love with the women they have sworn to avoid. The ensuing romantic entanglements and misunderstandings provide the basis for much of the film's humor and drama.

Alessandro Nivola delivers a charismatic performance as the King of Navarre, a serious and studious young man who finds himself unexpectedly smitten with the beautiful and intelligent Princess of France, played by Natascha McElhone. Alicia Silverstone is delightful as the quick-witted and charming Rosaline, who captures the heart of Berowne, played by Matthew Lillard.

The supporting cast is equally impressive, with standout performances from Timothy Spall as the clownish Don Armado, Adrian Lester as the lovelorn Boyet, and Emily Mortimer as the sweet and innocent Katherine.

What sets Love's Labour's Lost apart from other Shakespeare adaptations is its playful and irreverent tone. The film is set in the 1930s and features a colorful, stylized art deco aesthetic that perfectly captures the spirit of the era. The cast performs several musical numbers, including a catchy rendition of Cole Porter's "Let's Misbehave," that add to the film's joyful energy.

Despite its light-hearted tone, Love's Labour's Lost remains faithful to Shakespeare's text, retaining much of the original dialogue and sticking closely to the structure of the play. Branagh's direction is inventive and creative, using clever staging and camera work to bring the play's complex themes and relationships to life.

Overall, Love's Labour's Lost is a delightful and entertaining adaptation of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known plays. With its talented cast, lively musical numbers, and gorgeous visual style, this film is sure to delight audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Love's Labour's Lost is a 2000 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9 and a MetaScore of 35.