Jaques (As You Like It) Jaques (As You Like It) Jaques () is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's "As You Like It". The 'Melancholy Jaques', as he is known, is one of Duke Senior's noblemen who lives with him in the Forest of Arden (or Ardennes). The role has long been a favourite for famous Shakespearean actors. Jaques' distinguishing characteristic is his unmitigated cynicism. He is the only purely contemplative character in Shakespeare. He thinks, and does nothing. His whole occupation is to amuse his mind, and he is totally regardless of his body and his fortunes. Hazlitt describes him as "the prince
As You Like It (2006 film) 36% of 14 surveyed critics gave it a positive review; the average rating is 4.7/10. Another aggregator, Metacritic, rated it 75/100 based on 15 reviews. Philip French of "The Observer" called it less successful than Branagh's previous Shakespeare adaptations. Peter Bradshaw of "The Guardian" rated it 3/5 stars and wrote that it "deserves a look". Anthony Quinn of "The Independent" rated it 1/5 stars and wrote, "[T]he only way you could make the spiralling absurdities of As You Like It work would be to transform it into a fast-paced comedy". Many American critics called the film a "comeback" for Branagh's