Truth is often stranger than fiction.
The stories from people’s lives have shown how some can persevere under extraordinary circumstances, having become major fodder in various forms of media. The writer of the most famous and inspiring stories of our times, William Shakespeare, has provided some of the most compelling and influential pieces of fiction for the world; yet there is strangely little known about the man himself. Serious attempts have been made to fill in the gaps in Shakespeare’s life. 'Bill', however, has filled these gaps with comedy rather than accuracy; proving some fictions are stranger (and sillier) than truth.
From the team behind the 'Horrible Histories' series, 'Bill' tells the story of a young William Shakespeare who is trying to find his purpose in life. After failing as a musician, Shakespeare decides to leave his young family in Stratford-Upon-Avon behind to become a famous writer in plague-ridden London, with the help of Christopher Marlowe. Meanwhile, with the Spanish Armada having come and gone, Prince Philip II of Spain has begun plotting his revenge on Queen Elizabeth I by capturing Sir Richard Hawkins (Damian Lewis in a hilarious cameo). The two warring rulers decide to hold a peace summit, with The Queen hoping a play will soothe the souls of her enemies, whilst the Spanish have other plots in mind.
Much like the 'Horrible Histories' series it is spawned from, 'Bill' is a very silly, family film. Much of the humour comes from anachronisms and absurdity, including ‘yo mama’ jokes and people appearing out of pies, and a song titled 'A Series Of Funny Misunderstandings' sums up how comedy is used to keep the plot moving. The six-actor troupe behind the film take on multiple roles throughout, much like their obvious influence 'Monty Python'; although the surrealism has been dialled back so as not to go completely over their young audiences' heads.
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When sketch shows try to make a leap to the big screen, the results can be mixed, with the material failing to translate into a longer form than it is used to, leading to grabbing at straws, i.e. sex jokes. 'Bill', however, excels in developing a larger world and narrative for their comedy without forsaking any of their humour. The story is engaging, which makes the jokes stand out even more, and even the more emotional scenes still have a humour which doesn’t ruin the scene, including a corpse collector trying to drag away a dying character in the middle of one such scene. Hopefully this isn’t the last feature length film to come from the group, as they have proven they are the heirs to the Monty Python crown and can take a similar course.
★★★★
