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Movies / On DVD / Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing

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Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

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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

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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
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    Reviews for Much Ado About Nothing

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Continuously enjoyable from its action-filled opening to the dazzling final shot...

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    07/02/08
    Todd McCarthy
    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
    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
    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
    Derek Adams
    Time Out

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    09/23/05
    Thomas Delapa
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly

    No review available.

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

    No review available.

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

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/10/04
    Sarah Chauncey
    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
    Bob Bloom
    Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

    No review available.

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

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/12/04
    Daniel M. Kimmel
    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
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/16/03
    Walter Chaw
    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 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
    Alex Sandell
    Juicy Cerebellum

    Kenneth Branagh...has done it again.

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

    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
    Brian Mckay
    eFilmCritic.com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/04/03
    Mike McGranaghan
    Mike McGranaghan
    Aisle Seat
     
     
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