Much Ado About Nothing (1993) – Keanu Reeves, Denzel Washington & Shakespeare in the 90s

In this week’s episode of Why Were We Allowed to Watch This?, Mary and Teddy revisit Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. We dive into the film’s iconic casting choices (Keanu Reeves as Shakespeare’s angriest villain, Denzel Washington’s royal swagger, and Emma Thompson stealing the show), the misogyny of Shakespeare, and why this sun-soaked Tuscan comedy-drama is equal parts cringe and classic.

📝 What You’ll Hear in this Episode:

• Breaking down the Shakespearean accents in the 1993 Much Ado About Nothing cast
• Teddy’s disappointment in not meeting Keanu Reeves… yet
• How rewatching in 4K changes the way we saw this film as teens in the 90s
• Theater kid energy and 90s Shakespeare adaptations
• And yes, we talk about the movie too

 

🎙️ Hosts:

•  Mary Meyst-Huset – Expert VCR operator
• Teddy Micklos – Keanu Reeves’ future best friend

 

🔗 Links & References:

• Follow us on Instagram: @WhyWereWeAllowedPod
• Follow us on TikTok: @WhyWereWeAllowedT
• Movie IMDb page: MuchAdo About Nothing
• David Tennant & Catherine Tate in “Much Ado About Nothing” stage play on YouTube
• Where to watch: Amazon Prime | Apple TV | Google Play | Fandango at Home

📌 Where to Listen:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Anywhere you hid your VHS tapes

 

🙌 Support the Show:

• Subscribe & leave us a 5-star review (it helps other 90s kids find us!)
• Share with your BFFs who also watched movies way too young