Memorable, crazy movie

Great Film overall

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This should be awesome. The talent on display both in the cast and writing are impressive, reliable performers - David Mitchell, supported by ever-reliable Paula Wilcox, Liza Tarbuck and Harry Enfield. The setup is prime for exploitation - we are familiar with the Elizabethan period and everyone knows a tiny amount about Shakespeare.But it never really fully ignites - the feuds, snipes, clever asides etc do their job but it just seems to stroll along in 4th gear. Much has been said about the 'canned laughter' - all I'll say is that it does sound like it's fake- if it is genuine then the audience must be the dribbling mekons that usually sit in ITV audiences, certainly not BBC 2!

In sooth, the rollicking merriment of this ribald offering hath caused me to strain my vitals till I'm like to fill my puffling-pants with that which doth provide fertilizer but canst be found not at yon Walmart Garden Center, and which doth provide relief when brought forth but not in polite company!'Struth, were it not for the modern blessing of indoor plumbing I fear I'd long since have become the laughingstock of my near neighbors were I observed struggling to gain entry to mine own privy in time to forestall a reeking pant-load!Those other critics here who disavow the comic genius of this arch take on the life of the Bard of Avon canst not have seen the selfsame episodes I've viewed this far; that, or they are in the clandestine pay of that odious scoundrel, the Green-Eyed Robert Greene himself!Have you a secondary-school inmate resident in your abode, pray have them watch an episode or three of this noisome farce! Mayhap their grumblings regarding forcéd tutelage upon "Romeo and Juliet" will turn less nettlesome should they behold the fruitless attempts of Kate to strut the stage in the first female role in English theatre to be played by one who hath the greater weight of Bolingbrooks to her credit, yet not, alas, dangling 'twixt her thighs!

Upstart Crow is one of my current favourites. I particularly like the idea of Shakespeare being a close friend of Christopher Marlowe. There is no evidence that they actually ever met, but who cares? Marlowe is shown as a sort of "Flashheart" type, with all the boozy, womanising style of that great character.The regular speculations of Will on how his work will be seen in history, and allusions to things that could never happen, but that we know actually have occurred, is always fun. The seasoned older actors like Enfield, Tarbuck etc is well mixed with the younger cast.Some of the references to the plays, sonnets etc are no doubt sometimes lost on the average viewer, but, hey, I did Shakespeare at grammar school so I get it, or most of it!

I find rather hard to believe that folk believe that there is canned laughter in this show. I also find it had to believe that someone who claims to have watched only 30 seconds of it can actually judge. I have attended 2 recordings of this rather clever show and can categorically state that the laughter is real laughter from real people sitting in their bums watching the actors sweating. Ben Elton is there throughout, pointing clues between takes for those not fully versed in Shakespeares. In fact in some of the breaks where characters have to make lengthy costume change he goes into long spiels about have British sit-coms are made and that laughter tracks are never used at the BBC.Second series in now in the can - hopefully there will be a third.