Much Ado about Nothing

Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are likely to enjoy this resolutely lo-fi take on Shakespeare from Joss Whedon - the creator of those TV shows - whereas those who flocked to see his Avengers Assemble might be less swayed by the whimsical romance. It's all filmed in Whedon's own house and grounds, played out in modern dress (but with the original text) and filmed in luminous black and white, and, despite the lack of superheroes, it's great escapism. Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof (who both appeared in Angel) play Beatrice and Benedick, bickering exes whose friends conspire to get them back together. There are bumps in the road before the inevitable happy ending, but they're interspersed with sprightly monologues, jolly touches of slapstick, and even a lightly jazzy score, partly written by Whedon. It may not be as sun-kissed or as star-laden as Kenneth Branagh's 1993 version (set in Tuscany), but this particular home movie wins on ensemble acting and sheer charm.