Much Ado About Nothing

Name: Much Ado About Nothing
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: June 7, 2013
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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Much Ado About Nothing

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: June 7, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Nathan Fillion

Summary: Shakespeare’s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin by director Joss Whedon. Shot in just 12 days, the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love. As matchmaking schemes are put into play and disguises are donned, loathing and love soon prove toShakespeare’s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin by director Joss Whedon. Shot in just 12 days, the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love. As matchmaking schemes are put into play and disguises are donned, loathing and love soon prove to be close cousins. [Lionsgate]… Expand

Director: Joss Whedon

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 109 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Jun 21, 2013

Would the magic hold? The magic holds. It holds from beginning to end. Read full review

David Edelstein

May 27, 2013

The movie’s singular acting triumph is Nathan Fillion’s Constable Dogberry, one of Shakespeare’s simpler buffoons made poetic by understatement. Fillion speaks softly, with uninflected sincerity, a brilliant departure from the standard gregarious-hambone Dogberry. It’s his insularity — his imperviousness to the interjections of more observant people — that makes him such a touchingly credible clown. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Jun 20, 2013

It's a pleasant, engaging version of probably the closest thing to a sitcom the Bard ever penned. Read full review

Chris Packham

Jun 4, 2013

With its interrogations of gender, feminism, and marriage, Shakespeare's comedy is an apt vehicle for Whedon's own storytelling agenda. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Jun 20, 2013

With Much Ado About Nothing, Whedon has crafted an endearing bagatelle, made with equal parts brio and love, ambition and pared-down modesty. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Jun 5, 2013

The film isn't as fast and funny as it could be, although Nathan Fillion's easily offended constable injects some sorely needed comic relief. Read full review

Chris Cabin

Jun 3, 2013

The film is nothing without the physicality of the performers, as Joss Whedon's script handles the transition of Shakespeare's language to modern day indifferently. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarthaP

Jun 9, 2013

Brilliant! Rarely have I enjoyed a film this much. "Much Ado" was funny, beautiful and held the audience rapt. The cast was captivating. The artistic and directorial choices in tone, setting, photography, staging, and pace were all spot on. I guess a little less camera shake would have been OK.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

sivaruthvik

Mar 12, 2014

joss whedon once again proves he is a good director and he must be good after avengers , clark gregg did well and so does the rest of cast. always good movie

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

LamontRaymond

Jun 9, 2013

What an amazing home! Whedon's Much Ado is fantastic, mostly because of its lead actors the consistently amazing Amy Acker and the criminally under-cast Alexis Denisof.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

drlowdon

Sep 1, 2014

Josh Whedon's take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing retains the original script but updates the setting to the modern day.

Truth be told it's not always easy to follow the 17th Century dialogue but the bard had a way with words that few others can match and his tales still largelyJosh Whedon's take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing retains the original script but updates the setting to the modern day.

Truth be told it's not always easy to follow the 17th Century dialogue but the bard had a way with words that few others can match and his tales still largely stand up today, even if some of the humour is lost in translation. The performances, including a host of Whedon favourites, are excellent and help belay the movies small budget.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

RevRon

Oct 8, 2013

Saying anything bad about Shakespeare or an adaptation of one of his works is a quick and easy way for people to jerk their knees and call you an uncultured heathen. Doing one of his works is the fast track to get great reviews because syndicated snob critics really, REALLY don't want toSaying anything bad about Shakespeare or an adaptation of one of his works is a quick and easy way for people to jerk their knees and call you an uncultured heathen. Doing one of his works is the fast track to get great reviews because syndicated snob critics really, REALLY don't want to look uncultured. Joss Whedon's adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing" doesn't do much wrong but it isn't doing much to stand out either. Most of the acting is decent and the heart of the play is there, so it's funny. But it doesn't change the fact that it looked cheap to me. Modern day retellings always come off cheap to me because it looks like a film student's last minute project. It's like they forgot the movie was due so they just filmed their friends reading the lines, excused the modern day attire by saying it's a "modern retelling" and put it in black and white so it looks, "you know, deep and stuff." This movie looks less like it was done by Joss Whedon and more like it was done by a student who's semester got away from him and decided to make this the Sunday afternoon before the Monday it was due.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

gypsy1022

Oct 4, 2013

Unless you are a Shakespeare lover this movie is not for you. For me, combining a Shakesperian theme in today's world (even if it was meant to be a comedy) just didn't work. Also didn't care that it was in black and white but that's just me. It didn't provide any authenticity. I don giveUnless you are a Shakespeare lover this movie is not for you. For me, combining a Shakesperian theme in today's world (even if it was meant to be a comedy) just didn't work. Also didn't care that it was in black and white but that's just me. It didn't provide any authenticity. I don give it points for the quality of actors in the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

battlestar_nas

Dec 23, 2013

Thank you, Mike_M. After trying to watch this god awful movie I searched desperately to see if others felt the same way. The critics are idiots and have truly disappointed me. What is worse, they made me feel as though I was taking crazy pills. This movie was terrible. Thank you for the veryThank you, Mike_M. After trying to watch this god awful movie I searched desperately to see if others felt the same way. The critics are idiots and have truly disappointed me. What is worse, they made me feel as though I was taking crazy pills. This movie was terrible. Thank you for the very accurate and well written review.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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