The film uses Shakespeares language and matches it really well with the modern setting. It makes the story easier to understand and it's a good story.
My favourite Shakespeare play reimagined by one of my favourite TV show creators? You could hardly hold me down when I heard that Joss Whedon would be making Much Ado About Nothing and just as I had anticipated this year’s rendition of this Elizabethan classic was a real gem.
Whether or not this was originally intended as an attempt to bring Shakespeare to the masses, as a fan it’s easy to spot another even from the distance between the theatre seats and behind the directorial camera. If there wasn’t a genuine passion and interest behind Whedon’s decision to make this movie I would be most surprised, though he choice to throw some of his most favoured actors at the piece only serves as further ammunition in my opinion.
Starring Buffy and Angel star Alexis Denisof (the wonderful Wesley now playing the brilliant Benedick) and his Angel co-star Amy Acker as Beatrice, as well as Nathan Fillion who was in Firefly, Reed Diamond from Dollhouse, Clark Gregg from the Avengers Assemble and Fran Kranz from Cabin in the Woods it’s clear that Whedon called up a bunch of his friends to put together this piece; and the level of enjoyment that one would experience in such a set up comes streaming through the film. The fun is infectious and, as one of Shakespeare’s comedies, the script coupled with Whedon’s contemporary twist help to make this a genuinely enjoyable film for both those off and on screen.
Though there might not be anything utterly mind blowing about the piece fans of both Shakespeare and Whedon – which I am quickly learning I am not the only one – are bound to thoroughly enjoy the piece; whilst those who fall on either side of that identification will find aspects of both the well loved and familiar and the new and imaginative on offer here. For those who are neither Shakespeare nor Whedon fans? Surely no such people exist?