RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
90 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 40

Fresh: 36

Rotten:4

Average Rating: 7/10

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

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: When gallant Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), his nefarious brother Don John (Keanu Reeves), and close confidantes Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) ride thunderously into... When gallant Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), his nefarious brother Don John (Keanu Reeves), and close confidantes Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) ride thunderously into the Sicilian village of Messina, romance, gaiety, and suspicion abound. The men have returned safely from a war, and soon everyone in the sun-drenched villa is abuzz with thoughts of love. Claudio, enamored of the purity of the nubile Hero (Kate Beckinsale), entreats Don Pedro to woo the maiden on his behalf that evening at a masked ball. Once he's managed the successful betrothal of Hero to Claudio, Don Pedro has another plot in mind: he plans to trick Hero's bantering cousin Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and sworn bachelor Benedick into acknowledging they've fallen in love. Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, driven by contempt for his compatriots, has hatched a plot of his own: to fool Claudio and Don Pedro into believing Hero is unchaste. The plot works perfectly: sensitive but volatile Claudio denounces her publicly on their wedding day. All seems lost, and soon the attempts to set things right include a formal duel, a scheming friar, a mock memorial and a gaggle of bumbling constables. With its excellent cast and beautiful Tuscan backdrop, director Kenneth Branagh's film is a light-hearted adaptation of yet another of Shakespeare's great plays. [More]

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Kate Beckinsale, Chris Barnes

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Director: Kenneth Branagh

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jan 13, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Full of "sparkling merriment" (The Hollywood Reporter), this sexy, sunny comedy positively sizzles as one set of lovers battles against a dirty trick, and another set simply battle seach other! Adapted by Oscar® nominee* Kenneth Branagh and featuring an all-star cast, this charming romp "casts the battle of the sexes in the form of an elegant dance" (The New York Times). A military war has just ended, but the "merry war" between Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Benedick (Branagh) rages on! Can their friends trick them into making love instead? For that matter, can another couple's devotion survive the evil Don John's (Keanu Reeves) vicious lies? It's up to the blundering constable (Michael Keaton) to save the day so that the course of true love may yet run smooth!
  • Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Much Ado About Nothing

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

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

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    07/02/08
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A joyous romp whose forced jollity is only occasionally wearing.

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    07/02/08
    TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    07/02/08
    Channel 4 Film

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/20/07
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com

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

    Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment 1 Comment
    05/03/07
    Rachel Sanders
    Apollo Guide

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

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    02/09/06
    Derek Adams
    Time Out

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    09/23/05
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/29/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/05/05
    Lori Hoffman
    Atlantic City Weekly

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/10/04
    Sarah Chauncey
    Reel.com

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

    comment Comment
    05/01/04
    Bob Bloom
    Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    04/24/04
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/12/04
    Daniel M. Kimmel
    Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    11/07/03
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/16/03
    Walter Chaw
    Film Freak Central

    Unevenly cast but ebulliently filmed, the film is a treasure for the Branagh-Thompson scenes alone.

    comment Comment
    08/15/03
    Nick Davis
    Nick's Flick Picks

    A lot of fun! Branagh does excellent bringing Shakespeare's comedy to life.

    comment Comment
    05/28/03
    Alex Sandell
    Juicy Cerebellum

    Kenneth Branagh...has done it again.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Vincent Canby
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Wonderful rendering of Shakespeare's comedy. Branagh and Thompson shine. Wish I could say the same for Keanu.

    comment Comment
    03/21/03
    Brian Mckay
    eFilmCritic.com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/04/03
    Mike McGranaghan
    Aisle Seat
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    See More Topics...

    Related Forums for Much Ado About Nothing

    Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    79%
    79%
    Gran Torino
    30%
    30%
    12 Rounds
    23%
    23%
    Confessions of a Shopa…
    —
    The Code
    39%
    39%
    Inkheart

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    22%
    22%
    Push
    12%
    12%
    The Unborn
    29%
    29%
    The Little Red Truck
    —
    Five Fingers
    —
    Night Train

    More New Releases…

    RT On Current TV

    What’s Hot On RT

    5 Favorite Films

    5 Favorite Films

    Director Kathryn Bigelow on Hurt Locker, more

    Revisiting Hogwarts

    Revisiting Hogwarts

    Day 2: The Chamber of Secrets

    Humpday Clip

    Humpday Clip

    An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

    RT on Current TV!

    RT on Current TV!

    Check out the RT Show this Thursday!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
    48
    • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
    16
    • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
    9
    • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
    82
    • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
    39
    • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
    8
    • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
    92
    • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
    98
    • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
    6
    • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
    18
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    66
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
    59
    • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
    46
    • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
    39
    • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
    26
    • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
    25
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    22
    • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
    21
    • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
    17
    • Watch RT on Current TV
    6
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
    0
    • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
    10
    • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
    2
    • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
    5
    • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
    10
    • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
    24
    • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
    5
    • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
    11
    • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
    7
    • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
    7
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Much Ado About Nothing at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

    MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

    TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

    A Baywatch Comedy?
    A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

    BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.