Review of Much Ado About Nothing (2013) by Dave J — 21 Jun 2013

I genuinely couldn't believe how quickly this delightful movie seemed to fly by. Isn't Shakespeare supposed to be hard work? Director Joss Whedon edited the script down to standard feature-film length, but otherwise retained the original 400-year-old language. However, the palpable joy that the cast take in their roles brings the venerable text to playful, energetic life. Actors familiar from Whedon-led TV shows like 'Angel' and 'Firefly' rise superbly to this very different challenge.

Whedon has cleverly given the film a timeless quality by shooting in black and white, and by having his actors wear suits and dresses that could be from any point in the past century or so. When, occasionally, a very modern prop appears, it only adds to the film's comedy, and this "Much Ado About Nothing" is often very funny. There's some outstanding physical clowning from Alexis Denisof as Benedick. Amy Acker delivers Beatrice's waspishly witty lines with relish, while also subtly showing the sensitivity that she's striving to protect. The inept Watch led by Nathan Fillion's Dogberry are another delicious comic treat.

This particular Shakespeare comedy has a dark interlude in its second half, when malicious lies cause great distress to blameless characters. Whedon does a great job of integrating this episode into the tale without spoiling the film's prevailing sense of stylish, flirtatious fun. It's instructive, incidentally, to note the similarities between the harsh and hypocritical sexual morality depicted by Shakespeare centuries ago and the customs of some religious communities today.

It's amazing to think that this was all filmed at the director's (clearly palatial) home in less than a fortnight. The cinematography and the performances certainly show no signs of haste. I hope this film will become a staple teaching aid for English Literature classes: the genius of the Bard of Avon has never been made more accessible.