I'm not going to pretend to know anything about the play. I read Shakespeare in high school and took a course in college. I saw the movie version of Much Ado with Kenneth Branagh and Robert Sean Leonard in 11th or 12th grade and can't remember anything except that it was a comedy. Shakespeare's concepts, themes and characters are fantastic, but sometimes the plays can be hard for me to follow. Modern interpretations are greatly helpful, especially with actors who have a great awareness and understanding of the material and language.
Therefore, this version of Much Ado is going to be perfect. The ad campaign has even enchanted me! Stylish charcoal and fuschia highlighting Alexis Denisof as the star of a Joss Whedon film with a jazzy score? Dreamy sigh alert!
Alexis Denisof might be most well known to the general public for being Alyson Hannigan's husband, which is a damn shame because he is a ridiculously talented character actor with leading man looks. He did lots of theatre before getting the role of Wesley Wyndham-Pryce in Buffy the Vampire Slayer which led to co-starring in Angel. Now, he tends to slip under the radar and does interesting TV projects while appearing in adorable paparazzi pictures with Aly and their two lovely little girls.
He is ridiculously funny under that serious demeanor and is a downright hoot when he appears on How I Met Your Mother. I have been in love with him since the 4th season of Angel when he became all brooding and scruffy and having forbidden sex with Lilah. I may have been a little stupid over how I couldn't stand his bumbling ponce ass on Buffy and how much I resented him taking over for Doyle on Angel (rest in peace, Glenn Quinn), to the point that I stopped watching Angel until Faith did the crossover episodes in season 4.
(Then I may have fallen so hardcore in lust that his name became Wes Sexypants and he was the example of how pants should perfectly hang and despite my dislike of guns it suddenly became super hot to watch him impossibly shoot two at once while slow-mo whooshing in the air and becoming an action hero who had a cut throat and really hot sex while his temporary prisoner in the closet was forced to listen and dear god that is not what I really like but for some reason when he does it it's so crazy hot...)
Ahem. Let's continue.
Hi Amy Acker! It's a Wes and Fred reunion! And I didn't even ship the Fresley that much on Angel! However, I have no problem shipping them here.
I can't choose from this wonderful tumblr post, so I'll just post the whole thing. They really have wonderful chemistry as actors and friends.
I almost feel bad for loving this picture so much. Sorry Alyson and James Carpinello...
It's like Joss is apologizing for their final Angel plots. Except he apologizes by giving them starring roles in a highly acclaimed movie that was a blast to shoot at his house for two weeks and will get them plenty of acclaim. Can't we all have bosses like that?
Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk appear and are supposed to be hilarious. This doesn't surprise me at all. I love them both, and I can eventually forgive Fillion for having to cancel Philly Comic Con this year...that's just how awesome and delightful he is. I still regret not seeing Lenk in Rock of Ages on Broadway.
I'm enjoying the vast height difference and pornstache.
There are many other Whedonverse actors in the film like Sean Maher, Fran Kranz, Reed Diamond, and Clark Gregg. Apparently, once you work with Whedon and read Shakespeare at his house for funsies, you're in for life!
I truly am looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds and how this wonderful director and group of actors will bring it to life in modern California. It's not just for the pretty. Ok, maybe a little. I really hope this brings great opportunities for Denisof and Acker as they are both excellent actors who should be seen a lot more on the small and big screens.
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