I'm so bored of people using love as an excuse.... (Much Ado About Nothing)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Much Ado About Nothing
Date:	11/11/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Acting, adaptation, easy to watch

Disadvantages: Nothing really

Most of Shakespeare's plays have seen a number of differing adaptations, some lauded, some considered insulting to the bard, with some of the modernisation efforts missing the target. A few years ago, the BBC commissioned a number of adaptations, bringing the plays up to a modern style, replacing olden situations with modern, yet keeping the basics of the plot the same.

One to get this modernisation treatment is Much Ado About Nothing, a twisted tale of love and affection, and one that relies immensely on the characters, so basic is the plot. A very British affair, it uses a number of very current and recognisable actors and actresses, and places them in the various roles Shakespeare originally created.

Taking the setting of a news station, presenters Beatrice (Sarah Parish) and Benedick (Damien Lewis) have a history. Thrown together against their wills, neither believe in the values and virtues of love, they must sit and suffer as their fellow employees Claude (Tom Ellis) and Hero (Billie Piper) go through the motions of love, step by step, right under their noses. Does the virtual hatred that Bea and Ben show for each other mask altogether different feelings?

What is great about this is that is has a very Shakespearean feel to it, without dipping into an older style of storytelling. The plot is quite basic, almost something Richard Curtis would be seen to be writing, with the only intricacies coming with who is conniving with who and against whom. The different character combinations is very typical of the bard, and the production here has very cleverly created these little groups, as Shakespeare tends to do with his plays.

But it is really the acting that takes the full credit. Parish and Lewis are just brilliant as the two opposing representatives of the strong female and the stubborn male, and they manage to portray their characters very effectively. Piper and Ellis do well, also, to ensure they take second fiddle, even though a large amount of the situational side of things occurs because of their relationship. There are solid supporting roles as well from the remainder of the cast, with some good smaller roles for recognisable faces such as Derek Riddell, Patrick Ryecart and Martin Jarvis.

The programme was originally aired as a special one off drama, and although it's not technically billed as a film, it does last for an hour and a half, and should be treated as if it were a feature length TV drama. It has no recurring characters or anything like that, but it has the length and the individuality to give that feel of a TV series, as well as being strong enough on its owen to successfully compare to some films. Overall, it's a very well presented, acted and adapted adaptation, and is full of special moments. One I would happily watch again, just to see the interaction between the stars, I recommend you give this a go. It was originally aired on the BBC, and is available to buy, in a DVD case set with 3 other TV adaptations, for next to nothing.

Summary: Modern update of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing