Much Ado About Nothing

Another Joss Whedon movie? Yes sir! While on break from the Avengers Joss got some friends together and shot his take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. It's in black and white and stars a great deal of people from other Whedon projects so if you are a fan of those shows you'll love this movie. Hell I love it and I'm not really all that into Shakespeare. My mom use to take me to plays all the time. It was never really my thing.

If you are fans of the show Angel this movie is great for another reason as well. It's the chance to right a wrong on that show. We finally get to see Wesley and Fred get together. True this time they are playing different characters. Wesley plays Benedick while Fred is Beatrice. Well Wesley who was played by Alexis Densiof also plays Benedick while Amy Acker plays both Fred and Beatrice but you guys get what I mean.

Really to see them together all you have to do is start the movie. It's starts with Benedick feeling all awkward and sneaking out after fooling around while Beatrice pretends to be asleep. Setting up how they feel about each other. They like one another but don't want to admit it. They are both too proud.
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It's a testament to their acting and Whedon's directing that the old time speak fits nicely within the modern setting. In the wrong hands it could have gone horribly wrong. But here it just seems to work. Since this story has been around since before any of our great grandparents were even alive I won't dive into the plot like I normally do. I'll just stick with the actors and their work.

The film was shot in Whedon's home. The scene where Benedick is sitting next to a dollhouse talking serious is beyond amusing. As it is when he is rolling around on the ground trying to listen in without being seen. Densiof plays funny well. It's something that he showed us on Season 3 of Buffy and the first season or so of Angel before he became a badass.

Not to be out done, Amy Acker's performance is also chalk full of physical comedy that cracks you up everytime you watch it. Whether it be the first or 31st time watching it. She can bring humor and comedy in the same scene it is truly a skill and don't get me started on when she plays with the heart strings. I know it's not this movie, but try watching Angel A Hole in the World and not crying. You're heartless.

Nathan Fillion also brings a great deal of humor to his role with Tom Lenk as his faithful sidekick. If they had a few more scenes it would be safe to say they stole the movie. As it is they stole every scene they were in.

Over all this is an amazing fun movie. Shakespeare fan or not.