Yeah, I think the Wanamaker-Beale version is going to be my benchmark for this play for quite some time, because they did hit all the emotional levels so perfectly. (And I loved the bits in the pool, shut up. :P) It needs to have those softer moments in order to make it possible to see a realization of love, rather than just a whipcrack back-and-forth I love you - I love you not - I love you between B & B. I think those levels were played to be there in this version, but the humour was just so bang bang bang constant that there wasn't time to understand the rest of it.

the audience is too stupid to get the jokes if they're not accompanied by outrageous antics and lewd gestures
And yes, this - particularly because with Tennant there was a large fangirl contingent and I think the production played to that deliberately; there were moments when Something Funny happened in a way that was mocking Benedick, but it was set up so that people laughed because it was Tennant Being Funny. Which is frustrating.

I haven't seen the Globe version! I hear very good things, but honestly don't know if I have time. (You should come visit more during theatre season! :D)