--- title: "Much Ado About Nothing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing-2013/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing-2013" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Much Ado About Nothing (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 19 reviews: 15 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics enjoy it. The reviews lean warmly towards Joss Whedon’s modern-dress, black-and-white version, shot quickly at his own house, and the praise clusters in two places: the cast’s relaxed, natural way with the verse, and Amy Acker’s Beatrice, which is singled out again and again as the best thing in it. Nathan Fillion’s Dogberry draws repeated mentions, and several critics note that the play’s darker corners come through more clearly than usual. The reservations are about the setting and the look. A few critics find the modern trappings sit awkwardly against the language, and the home-shot black-and-white photography is called cramped by The Guardian and amateurish by Slant Magazine. The Wrap thinks Alexis Denisof miscast as Benedick, which unbalances the central romance. Comparisons with Kenneth Branagh’s version recur, not always in Whedon’s favour. The spread is fairly wide, from outright raves to middling shrugs, but nobody dismisses it. ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Rating Critic’s Pick. 7 June 2013. The critic calls it one of the liveliest and most delightful films of the year, highlighting its screwball energy and modern, pop-cultural take on the play. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/movies/much-ado-about-nothing-directed-by-joss-whedon.html) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2013. Edelstein calls Whedon's version the smoothest and most enjoyable Shakespeare comedy on film, crediting the director's intuitive grasp of the text and the cast's natural delivery of the language. He singles out Nathan Fillion's understated Dogberry for particular praise and notes the film's balance of comedy and darker undertones. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/movie-review-whedons-much-ado-about-nothing.html) ## Sight and Sound — Sophie Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 89/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. Whedon's joyful, contemporary adaptation brings swiftness and fluency to the play's barbed banter and trials of love, with the pen proving mightier than the sword. The strong female characters, utopian domestic space, and especially Amy Acker's show-stopping Beatrice are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-much-ado-about-nothing) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 87/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2012. The critic praises Whedon's whipcrack wit as a perfect fit for the material and calls the intimate black-and-white home-shot film a fizzily fresh take. The well-rounded cast, especially Amy Acker's Beatrice, is highlighted as making the adaptation shine. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/much-ado-nothing-2-review/) ## Film Comment — Geoffrey O’Brien Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds Whedon's film an unlooked-for pleasure, noting it as the most American Shakespeare movie with crisp naturalistic line readings and a romance of the one percent. Singles out how the dark side of the play emerges most forcefully here, with Whedon’s precise reading making the play new again. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-much-ado-about-nothing-joss-whedon/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2013. The film is described as a tasty, good-humored and unpretentious backyard treat and palate cleanser shot quickly in the director’s home. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-jun-06-la-et-mn-much-ado-review-20130607-story.html) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 10 June 2013. Whedon's minuscule-budget home movie is a satisfying cinematic take on the Bard that feels intimate and personal while remaining worthy of the big screen. The witty, good-natured and lovable DIY production, including scenes in a children's bedroom and laundry room, is singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/much-ado-about-nothing-1) ## IndieWire — Christopher Schobert Fi1m's normalised score 79/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2013. The review finds Whedon's modern-dress, black-and-white adaptation lively and engaging thanks to its cast of familiar faces and playful tone. It praises the film's intimate, home-movie feel while noting it stays true to the play's romantic and comedic spirit. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-joss-whedons-much-ado-about-nothing-97270/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 58/100 (inferred from the text). 3 October 2013. The critic finds Joss Whedon's black-and-white, modern-day take falls a little flat compared to Kenneth Branagh's version. Amy Acker's nuanced Beatrice and Nathan Fillion's energetic Dogberry are singled out as what rescues the low-budget adaptation. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-bluray-review-much-ado-about-nothing-12-8856888.html) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2013. The review appreciates the film's comic energy and the cast's physicality but criticizes the indifferent handling of Shakespeare's language in a modern setting and the amateurish black-and-white aesthetic. It concludes that the project feels like a calculated home movie lacking deeper personal connection from the director. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/much-ado-about-nothing/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. The critic finds Joss Whedon's modern-dress, black-and-white adaptation too tasteful and self-conscious, resulting in a version that feels weirdly cramped and claustrophobic rather than energetic or unconventional. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/13/much-ado-about-nothing-review) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Rating 5/5. 12 June 2013. The critic calls the adaptation joyous and intimate, a triumph of micro-budget ingenuity with magnetic chemistry between the leads. Singles out the fresh, vigorous take on the text and the wit, warmth and love for its characters that make it entirely joyous. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a489525/much-ado-about-nothing-review-joss-whedon-directs-shakespeare-comedy/) ## HeyUGuys — Kenji Lloyd Rating 5/5. 9 September 2012. Festival review. Whedon's adaptation is a smart, sexy, and funny take on the classic play, a masterpiece that is consistently hilarious with no beats amiss. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/tiff-2012-much-ado-about-nothing-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 10 September 2012. Festival review. Whedon pulls off a delightful, DIY modern-day black-and-white adaptation shot at his home; its off-the-cuff nature is not flawless but from beginning to end delightful, one of 2012's most unexpected treats. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/tiff-review-joss-whedons-much-ado-about-nothing-is-an-unexpected-delight-20120910/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2013. Whedon's version mixes modern elements with the play's social codes, developing into an emotionally complex tale that justifies itself; it breathes fresh life into the story with modern ethos and energy, ranking among the best adaptations. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/much-ado-about-nothing-2012-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 8 June 2013. The critic calls it the best home movie ever and a sublime contemporary take that feels like a champagne-drenched weekend with friends. Singles out the sparkling wit and standout performances, especially Amy Acker’s Beatrice, while noting some limitations in Alexis Denisof’s early scenes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/much-ado-about-nothing-review/) ## Paste — Michael Burgin Rating 8.2. 27 June 2013. The review finds Whedon's contemporary black-and-white adaptation nearly as pleasing as Branagh's, highlighting the strong performances especially by Denisof and Acker as Benedick and Beatrice, and Nathan Fillion as Dogberry, while noting some minor issues with modernizing the setting. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/much-ado-about-nothing) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 7 June 2013. The critic praises the superb cast, clever staging, and Whedon's understanding of dialogue, particularly the electric chemistry between Beatrice and Benedick, while noting the limitations of the micro-budget and finding the Claudio/Hero subplot less engaging. [Read the review](https://collider.com/much-ado-about-nothing-review-joss-whedon/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2013. The review finds the film disappointingly mediocre overall despite Whedon's daring choice to follow up The Avengers with a quick, low-budget Shakespeare adaptation. It singles out the miscasting of Alexis Denisof as Benedick as the central flaw that sinks the romantic balance with Amy Acker's Beatrice. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/much-ado-about-nothing-review-fault-lies-co-star-95086/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing-2013.md