Director Joss Whedon is putting a modern-day spin to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, and critics are applauding.

Whedon, who also directed 2012's The Avengers, keeps the characters in modern clothing and they speak in American accents. The banter, however, is straight off the pages of Shakepeare's famous romantic comedy and the director also stayed true to the plot. 

"It may be the martini-toned black-and-white cinematography, the soigné Southern California setting, or the combative courtship of Amy Acker's angular, sharp-tongued Beatrice and Alexis Denisof's grouchy, hangdog Benedick," wrote The New York Times, "but from its very first scenes, Mr. Whedon's film crackles with a busy, slightly wayward energy that recalls the classic romantic sparring of the studio era." 

The governor of Messina, Leonato, is played by Clark Gregg. He gets a visit from his friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond). Pedro, who is back from his campaign against his brother Don John (Sean Maher), brings along Benedick and Claudio (Fran Kranz), his two officers. Claudio quickly falls in love with Leonato's daughter Hero (Jillian Morgese). Benedick, on the other hand, flirts with the governor's niece Beatrice but their love affair is far more complicated.

"The burden is mainly on the actors, who have to properly deliver the playwright's archaic, acrobatic wordplay while still sounding like they belong in the here and now," AVClub.com wrote. "With little exception, the players assembled here - most of them veterans of the Whedonverse - pull off that difficult balancing act with gusto."

Aside from critics being impressed with the performance of the actors, who really aren't household names yet, some praise Whedon's ideas for the movie that was cheaply shot in just 12 days.

"And that's really the key to the film's success - well, along with the original source. The actors are charming, and for the most part handle Shakespeare's dialogue like pros. The camerawork is light and fresh, and the setting serves as a lovely stage," wrote the New York Daily News.

The movie comes to theaters on Friday.