fakeboyfriend

Okay, if your most recent viewings of Ken Branagh have been of his portrayal of Gilderoy Lockheart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he deserves another look. Particularly, look at his Benedick in his version of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. I have been showing that to my students over the past week and falling in love with the character again. I think many of my female students are right there along with me, too, judging from their comments.

Branagh’s Benedick is witty, cute and engaging, despite his slight pomposity in the first half of the movie.  His love for Beatrice, once he decides that he loves her, is inspiring. I want my husband to be so devoted to me that he would challenge someone to a duel. Not that I would want him to actually do it, or would even let him. I just want him to be willing to do it.

So, if anyone is looking for me over the next few days, away with thee to Messina! There will I be finding a way to convince Benedick to hang his bugle on my bedpost instead of Beatrice’s.

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