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As intelligent as it is sweet, replete with Tom Stoppard's trademark wordplay and wit, "Shakespeare in Love" is one of the best romantic comedies of recent years.
Our hero is Will Shakespeare (Fiennes), a jobbing playwright shagging about in grubby 16th century London, trying to find his muse and overcome writers block. Salvation comes in the easy-on-the-eye form of Lady Viola (Paltrow), a member of the gentry captivated by the power of theatre but already engaged to stuffy sabre-rattler Lord Wessex (Firth).
What follows is an entertaining romp through Shakers' attempts to woo his lady while writing what his hectic personal life dictates will eventually become "Romeo And Juliet". This affords plenty of knowing Shakespearean references, as we see Will hear or speak snatches of his now immortal plays, but Stoppard and co-writer Marc Norman never sacrifice the story for the sake of being clever.
Paltrow's English Rose bit is flawless (even if she did blub when she bagged an Oscar) and Ben Affleck is good value for money as an egotistical actor who only agrees to be in Will's play because he thinks it's called "Mercutio". Martin Clunes' crass theatre impresario adds a certain "Carry On Big Willy" feel to proceedings, but Fiennes more than compensates, totally convincing as both a comic and romantic lead, delivering a performance of such charisma it's bewildering he hasn't become a huge star.
And if it's all a little overlong and overwrought? Well, it is Shakespeare.
