Follow them and the principals may suffer. Here, Trevor Nunn's take on the tale makes them more of an interruption than balanced comic relief. It's as if a comedy of manners were invaded by burlesque comics from another production. It isn't until well into the film, when the sun finally begins to show some warmth, that Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Maria seem to really be part of the same story. Of course, this being a tale of love, the darkness does lift.
Unrequited love is requited, and all's well that ends well.