Whedon’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ a timeless take

Shakespeare and Company isn’t the only place where you can catch glowing examples of the Bard’s work this summer.

Filmmaker Joss Whedon’s simple, modern take on Much Ado About Nothing is now in theaters.

Fans of Whedon, especially his television work, will particularly enjoy how he blends performances from a variety of actors from the so-called “Whedonverse.”

Stars Amy Acker (Whedon’s Angel and Dollhouse) and Alexis Denisof (Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) are delightful as this particular pair of star-crossed lovers, Beatrice and Benedick, offering a perfect balance between the comedy and drama of the story.

Another standout is Clark Gregg, who stole the show in Whedon’s The Avengers as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson last year. He’s at work yet again in Much Ado About Nothing as Leonato, providing more than his share of laughs.

Nathan Fillion (Whedon’s Firefly and the popular crime show Castle) also brings his wit to the screen as Dogberry, one half of a duo of bumbling detectives.

The dialogue and characters of William Shakespeare’s play are intact, but everything else is given an update.

Aside from drawing on Shakespeare’s work, the film gracefully plays on the screwball comedies of the 1930s and ’40s.

Much Ado About Nothing almost entirely takes place in one location and involves a variety of romantic entanglements, particularly harkening back to George Cukor’s 1940 film The Philadelphia Story.

Acker and Denisof highlight this in two sequences featuring the best old-school physical comedy this critic’s seen in years.

The location, black and white cinematography, jazzy score and sleek but simple costumes (men in suits and women in dresses) combine to give Much Ado About Nothing a timeless feel.

Whedon’s work definitely has its fans, but this film will not only appeal to that limited scope. His adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing has style in spades, satisfying those who might find Whedon’s other work too simplistic in terms of style.

If you’re not a fan of Whedon but enjoy Shakespearean adaptations or classic screwball comedies, you definitely owe it to yourself to see this stylish, timeless film in theaters.

If you’re a fan of Whedon, you’re probably already in line for a ticket.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on July 5, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Columns,Movie Reviews,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry