Rupert Everett's Oberon and Stanley Tucci's Puck bring trouble to young lovers Calista Flockhart, Dominic West Christian Bale and Anna Friel. Set in 1890s Italy where bicycles abound, this is a good-natured, appealing and often imaginative version of the Shakespeare play, in which the midnight enchantments include the queen of the fairies (Michelle Pfeiffer) falling in love with an ass (Kevin Kline). This plush, prettily photographed movie warms up as it goes along and the cast is impressive, particularly the women, with Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania, Calista Flockhart of Ally McBeal as Helena, Anna Friel as Hermia and Sophie Marceau as Hippolyta. Everett and Kevin Kline as Bottom are also very cheering.

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