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Bill is a British historical comedy film based on the early life of William Shakespeare. The movie is directed by Richard Bracewell and stars Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, and Martha Howe-Douglas. The movie follows the story of William Shakespeare before he became famous and how he finds his calling. The story starts with a young Shakespeare in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, where he works as a lute player for a traveling troupe of actors. After getting kicked out of the troupe, Shakespeare decides to pursue his passion for writing and heads to London. He arrives in London and decides to join a theater company that is in need of a new writer. However, things don't go as planned as he arrives on the same day as Christopher Marlowe, who is the most popular playwright in London.

As Shakespeare struggles to find his place in the theater company, he meets a woman named Elizabeth who believes in his talent and helps him write his first play. However, Shakespeare quickly discovers that the theater company is not interested in his work and he struggles to get his plays produced.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Shakespeare, the Queen of England is looking for a playwright to create a play that will promote her religious agenda. The Queen's agents, including a spy named Walsingham, embark on a mission to find the perfect writer, and they set their sights on Shakespeare.

The movie is filled with hilarious moments as Shakespeare tries to find his footing in the world of theater. The movie satirizes the Elizabethan era and its norms and values. Despite the satirical nature of the film, the movie's take on Shakespeare is quite endearing, and it shows him as a talented writer who had to face many obstacles before he made it in the world of theater.

The movie is also notable for its contemporary humor, which is often referenced to how the world is today. This humor includes jokes about dating apps, social media, and binge-watching TV shows. However, the humor never feels out of place, and the movie successfully blends contemporary humor with historical themes.

Mathew Baynton gives a fantastic performance as William Shakespeare. He truly embodies the character and creates a relatable portrayal of the great writer. Simon Farnaby and Martha Howe-Douglas also give noteworthy performances as Elizabeth and Walsingham, respectively.

Overall, Bill is a delightful movie that is both funny and heartwarming. The movie's take on Shakespeare is refreshing, and it shows that he was just like any other struggling artist before he became a legend. If you're looking for a light comedy with historical themes, then Bill is definitely worth checking out.

Bill is a 2015 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 60.