Much Ado About Nothing
Directed by: Joss Whedon Starring: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: June 21, 2013
Trailer Score: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: My favorite thing about this trailer is the simple fact that it exists. How can you not love Joss Whedon for making a low budget, black-and-white Shakespeare adaptation after getting The Avengers? Most of the people involved are Whedon alums – Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, Sean Maher chief among them – and they all look to have had a great time during the filming. I might even go so far as to say I'm more excited about Much Ado About Nothing than The Avengers 2. That would probably be inaccurate, but it's a closer race than one might expect.
It sounds like Whedon's cast is really making Shakespeare's words work in a contemporary setting. Agent Phil Coulson himself, Clark Gregg, seems to have a great knack for it, especially on the line, "There's a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet, but there's a skirmish of wit between them." Alexis Denisof as Benedick is the other standout. His way of speaking Shakespeare's dialogue is hilarious, and every line is perfect (Amy Acker as his Beatrice looks equally good). Something about the way Denisof growls, "By this day, she's a fair lady," makes me laugh every time. Even if the trailer didn't work this well, I'd still see this for the cast alone. In addition to the stellar group listed above, Riki Lindhome from Garfunkel and Oates pops up for a moment. Sold!
If the film delivers everything it promises – including obsession, hatred, love, power, sex, devotion and deceit – it will be a great time at the movies. Based on these 98 seconds, I'm almost positive it will deliver. If nothing else, it should hold us over until Whedon gets around to making a Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog sequel.