Much Ado About Whedon

By now, it's been fairly well circulated as to how Joss Whedon took a short break in the middle of making Avengers, and used it to relax and recharge...by making another movie.  That movie, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing opened today in limited release.



The story, for those Shakespearean-impaired, involves the goings-on at the Governor Leonato's mansion (ably played in the film by Joss Whedon's actual house,) when Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon comes to visit with his entourage of friends Benedick and Claudio, and bastard brother Don John.  The "A" plot involves the bumpy relationship of Claudio and Leonato's daughter Hero, which begins as love at first sight and is derailed just as quickly by the disgruntled manipulations of Don John. The "B" plot, which gives the play most of its memorable moments, is the parallel courtship of Leonato's niece Beatrice and Benedick--both as cynical and combative as Claudio and Hero are naive and idealistic.  While the sniping pair start out as the The Bickering Bickersons, pretty much everyone in the household conspires to guilt the two into falling for each other, until they reveal themselves as awkward in love as they were facile in war. 

Amy Acker as Beatrice

The actors are all the typical Joss Whedon Players, and the fact that most of them have been in multiple projects both with Joss and with each other lends their characters an air of easy familiarity.  The film, shot in black and white, looks beautiful as Whedon's house displays features ranging from an outdoor stone amphitheater to a girl's room filled with stuffed animals.  His affection for both his home and his friends is evident in every shot.

The play itself is marvelous, and if the main plotline sometimes garners eyerolls at its overwrought drama, the quick banter between Benedick and Beatrice always carries the show.  The contemporary setting seems not at all out of place, given that the dynamics between the two are as modern as any episode of Moonlighting or Howard Hawks comedy or current-day sitcom.

Jillian Morgese as Hero, and
Clark Gregg as Leonato

Even the low comedy bits, which are usually the most challenging for an audience to understand, go over very well, thanks to Whedon utilizing one of his big guns, Nathan Fillion, to play Dogberry.  As the hapless and clueless lawman who brings about the downfall of Don John almost in spite of himself, Fillion succeeds far better than the mutteringly incoherent Michael Keaton in the 1993 Branagh version.

"But masters, remember that I am an ass: though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass."

 

 

My main bone of contention with the adaptation of the play is one that seems common enough--the implication that the war of words Benedick and Beatrice have is based on a prior relationship the two had, which was broken off by Benedick.  I suspect most feel this must be the case, in order to explain how violently the two argue in the beginning, and how quickly they are led to reverse their feelings in the middle.  For me, however, to have Beatrice put in the role of the angry jilted ex- somewhat weakens her position in relationship to Benedick...and I want them to be as equal as their dialogue.  

“Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.”  Alexis Denisof as Benedick

 

Of course you can't have much of a story without a villain, and Sean Maher does an good job of playing a convincingly smooth Don John, causing mayhem and unhappiness just because he can.  He is helped in some measure, by the fact that the last time we saw this role, Keanu Reeves was wearing it.

SIMON TAM, NO!

At the showing I saw, Joss and several of the cast members came in afterwards and held a short Q&A for the audience.  They discussed various topics, including how the movie evolved from social gatherings they used to have, in which they would all prepare Shakespeare readings.

"Woo!"

 In summary then, Joss Whedon has done a terrific job adapting one of Shakespeare's masterpieces--an accomplishment made even more incredible considering the shoestring budget (he's currently running a fan contest to come up with a poster design) and amazing time constraints that he labored under.  Make an effort to see it if it comes to a theater near you--it's worth the effort.

Much Ado About Nothing opened June 7 at select theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and will open Nationwide June 21.