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Much Ado About Nothing (DQ)
Stars: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg, Reed Diamond, Spencer Treat Clark, Riki Lindhome, Tom Lenk
Director: Joss Whedon
Shakespearian prose coming from the mouths of men in suits seems very odd until you get used to the concept, and even then Joss Whedon's idea of filming in his own (admittedly fairly palatial) home never quite works.
And it's in black and white, too, emphasising that this is a friends-and-family project, filmed in 12 days while Whedon was waiting to edit Avengers Assemble.
That said, the delivery of Shakespeare's dialogue is pretty capable, with Amy Acker a delightful Beatrice; she and Alexis Denisoff (as Benedick) raise some good laughs with clever physical comedy, although Denisoff is less interesting when he loses his moustache and beard.
Reed Diamond also catches the eye as Don Pedro.
At the end of the day, however, this is not really one of the Bard's most filmable plays, and any amusement is largely down the actors rather than the basic material. Though it passes the time, the piece remains little more than a passing curiosity.
David Quinlan
USA 2012. UK Distributor: Kaleidoscope Entertainment. Black and white.
107 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.
Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 0.
Review date: 09 Jun 2013