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Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

tomatometer

91

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 4

Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.

78

Average Rating: 7/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 2

Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.

audience

82

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 48,755

My Rating

Movie Info

Actor Kenneth Branagh made his directorial debut with a rousing screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V. Four years later, he returns to the bard's work with this lively version of one of Shakespeare's best comedies. Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the Prince of Aragon, returns victorious from battle to the praises of the Governor of Messina, Leonato (Richard Briers). One of Don Pedro's bravest men, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), falls in love with Hero (Kate Beckinsale), Leonato's

PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Jan 1, 1998

Samuel Goldwyn Films

Cast

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (5) | DVD (10)

Continuously enjoyable from its action-filled opening to the dazzling final shot...

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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Kenneth Branagh...has done it again.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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The picture is overripe, and with few exceptions, so are the performances.

May 12, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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The key to the film's success is in the acting, especially in the sparks that fly between Branagh and Thompson.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
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Somehow, the movie feels insubstantial and uninspired.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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Director Branagh, who altered the play imaginatively for the screen, gives wonderful import to this silliness from long ago.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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Branagh's highly entertaining and accessible take on one of the Bard's zestiest comedies. [Blu-ray]

May 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

A joyous romp whose forced jollity is only occasionally wearing.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

You can not fault Branagh's enthusiasm and his successful campaign to bring the Bard to the masses.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

The DVD is short on extras.

May 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Although Kenneth Branagh's interpretation does much to make Shakespeare's play comprehensible, it ultimately fails to create any kind of enduring watchability.

May 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment (1)
Apollo Guide

There's much to commend in Branagh's pruned, international version of Shakespeare's troubling comedy.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

A lively and colorful adaptation of Shakespeare's play; Thompson and Branagh are especially fun to watch.

May 1, 2004 Comment
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

This film is going to entertain even those viewers who care little about Shakespeare and care about his comedies even less.

November 7, 2003 Full Review | Comment
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More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Much Ado About Nothing

Branagh and Thompson carry the film and shine in their roles.

May 16, 2007
wildaly14

Super Reviewer

A wonderfully old-fashioned adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's comedies with a stellar cast. While it is hard to pick out someone, Michael Keaton is particularly awesome as confused constable. Of course drama, complications and evil plots ensue, but of course, since this is a comedy, justice will be done. In

June 14, 2006
ironclad1609

Super Reviewer

    1. Claudio: Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.
    – Submitted by Dennis L (2 months ago)

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Latest News for Much Ado About Nothing

October 24, 2011:
Much Ado Being Made Over Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing
The "Avengers" director seems to have filmed a secret Shakespeare adaptation.

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