My main exposure to Josh Whedon’s work is through his television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, both of which I was an ardent fan of, but I also love Shakespeare and especially Much Ado…. I could not make the two fit together in my head, so for me this film was a must see out of curiosity.
If I enjoyed Josh Whedon’s work before, I am now in awe! There is no doubt Shakespeare’s script is a masterpiece of wit and humour, but so often those who produce it miss the nuances; the unspoken humour that is implied. Whedon explores it all: the exchanged looks, the physical humour; this is the funniest Shakespeare I have seen for a very long time.
The casting is great. Amy Acker is wonderful as Beatrice and Alexis Densiof, the perfect foil as her sparring partner Benedick. Fran Krantz plays the easily duped Claudio and Jillian Morgese is beautifully naïve and innocent as his object of love Hero. Many of these actors are favourites of Whedon and have appeared in many of his previous projects and he has cast them well. Considering this, it is no surprise to see Nathan Fillion (of Firefly and Castle fame) as the buffoon Dogberry, a very different detective, and a part he takes to with gusto. With Clark Gregg as Leonato, Reed Diamond as Don Pedro and Sean Maher as the conniving Don John there are no weak links. The language is used so naturally that you quickly forget they are using phrases that have been obsolete for centuries.
The same is true for the filming. I was three quarters of the way through the film when I realised it was in black and white. It seemed so natural, I had not questioned the lack of colour. Unlike some other adaptations, the modern dress was not jarring in any way and the use of modern technology was seamlessly added without being out of place. The whole style of the film is very natural and comfortable, and the humour flows like water.
If, like me, you love Shakespeare, I cannot recommend this film too highly; you must see it. If you are a Whedon fan and can cope with the slightly strange language, you too will enjoy his sense of humour which surfaces strongly. It is nice to be reminded how Shakespeare remains so relevant.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Rating out of 10: 10
Opens 11 July 2013
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