Critic Reviews

• Linda Holmes, NPR

  A project this simple would be nowhere without the actors, and Whedon gets fine work out of just about everybody.

• Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest

  A joyous, utterly contemporary treatment of the Bard's 400-year old play. While the production's bare-bones budget shows at time, (the film) is clearly a labor of love on the part of all involved.

• Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

  While you can sense the easy camaraderie and chemistry among the cast, the film doesn't coast on its homey goodwill. It's actually a very smart and disciplined adaptation of Shakespeare's play.

• Meredith Borders, Badass Digest

  MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is a triumph of charm and wit, going down so easily that we forget how astonishing it is that it actually exists.

• Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net

  As a modern version of Shakespeare goes Ado has a lot to recommend it and is worth seeing for Fillion's performance alone.

• Amy Curtis, We Got This Covered

  Much Ado About Nothing is a cute and stylish modern adaptation of Shakespeare's play, but it's largely unremarkable especially when compared to film versions that are already out there.

• Matthew Razak, Flixist.com

  What's obvious here is that Joss Whedon is a great director, Shakespeare is a great writer and if you get a cast together that really clicks you're going to make a fun movie.

• Stephen Carty, Flix Capacitor

  The DIY ethos is admirable, but Whedon's undoubted strength is his dialogue, so doing it this way means he's essentially handicapping himself, and robbing us of what we enjoy most about his work.

• Kirsty Leckie-Palmer, The Skinny

  Whedon's inventive framing, delicate means of shifting focus and glowing, ethereal use of light make for a stylish and absolutely credible vision, of which much ado would be well-earned.

• Hannah McGill, The List

  It's rather joyous to see a name director pursue a true passion project, and realise it with such simplicity, elegance and emotional directness.

• Sam Fragoso, Fan The Fire

  A creative blend of contemporary wit and love with Shakespearian vernacular.

• Andrew Robinson, Film School Rejects

  So many comedies are unable to have more than a handful of memorable moments, but Much Ado About Nothing has dozens.

• Chris Bumbray, JoBlo's Movie Emporium

  A fresh and faithful take on The Bard.

• Tom Clift, Moviedex

  Whedon and Shakespeare are truly a match made in heaven.

• Fred Topel, CraveOnline

  I actually got a lot more out of Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing than I did when my 9th grade English class went to see a production of the play.

• Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]

  Much Ado may be a bit of a B+ staple on the Shakespeare circuit, but Whedon - as well as improving student grades the world over - makes it feel second to none.

• Kenji Lloyd, HeyUGuys

  Simply put, Much Ado About Nothing is a masterpiece. A heartfelt, beautiful, affecting masterpiece.

Read all 17 critic reviews