RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • 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
Template ImageTemplate Image

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
    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
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    66% 66% Public Enemies
    83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
    75% 75% Julie & Julia
    32% 32% Terminator Salvation

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    90% 90% District 9
    86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
    63% 63% Extract
    06% 06% All About Steve
    78% 78% It Might Get Loud

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Sherlock Holmes

    Sherlock Holmes

    New clips from the detective reboot!

    Iron Man 2

    Iron Man 2

    Watch the brand new trailer now!

    Awards Tour

    Awards Tour

    Keep up with latest nominations and awards!

    RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

    RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

    District 9 & 500 Days of Summer

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
    11
    • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
    16
    • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
    102
    • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
    1
    • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
    19
    • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
    32
    • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
    28
    • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
    9
    • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
    4
    • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
    61
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
    309
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
    218
    • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
    145
    • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
    99
    • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
    89
    • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
    43
    • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
    43
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    34
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
    16
    • Friday Harvest: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and more!
    14
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    34
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    21
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    2
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    12
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    23
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    15
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    24
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Much Ado About Nothing at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    MSN's Year in Review
    MSN's Year in Review External Link

    Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

    Moviefone's Year End Poll
    Moviefone's Year End Poll External Link

    What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

    Tarantino's Characters
    Tarantino's Characters External Link

    Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

    Top 10 Movies of 2009
    Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

    TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

    Top 20 of the Decade
    Top 20 of the Decade External Link

    Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    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.