Berardinelli gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "about 1/3 Shakespeare, 1/3 song-and-dance, and 1/3 ribald slapstick" and describing the balance as "awkward, but the overall result is strangely appealing." He concluded, "Although "Love's Labour's Lost" does not score the kind of complete success that Branagh has achieved with his other Shakespeare adaptations, it is a welcome addition, not only because it represents the first time the play has been brought to the screen, but because it shows the lengths to which the director is willing to stretch the envelope. Flaws (most of which are minor) aside, "Love's Labour's Lost" is an enjoyable trifle, especially for those who don't take their Shakespeare "too" seriously and those who love the old Hollywood musicals as much as Branagh obviously does."