Hamlet 2 Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
One high school drama teacher is about to make a huge number 2
In this irreverent comedy, a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher rallies his Tucson, AZ students as he conceives and stages politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet.
| Steve Coogan | Dana Marschz |
| Catherine Keener | Brie Marschz |
| Joseph Julian Soria | Octavio |
| Skylar Astin | Rand Posin |
| Phoebe Strole | Epiphany Sellars |
| Melonie Diaz | Ivonne |
| Arnie Pantoja | Vitamin J |
| Michael Esparza | Chuy |
| Natalie Amenula | Yolanda |
| Marshall Bell | Principal Rocker |
| David Arquette | Gary |
| Elisabeth Shue | Elisabeth Shue |
| Amy Poehler | Cricket Feldstein |
| Shea Pepe | Noah Sapperstein |
| Marco RodrÃguez | Mr. Marquez |
| Andrew Fleming |
6.40 out of 10 (3613 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Walk In Late...Very Late
posted on 09 Jul 2009The theatres should charge only a quarter of the price for this movie. Only the last half hour was entertaining.It fails at engaging the audience with any of the characters. One moment, students are "thugs", the next scene they're rehearsing lines. No buildup.The comedic timing is off as well. A gag is drawn on after it should have been over a few lines back. Steve Coogan's character is unbearably dry and, again, is not engaging whatsoever.Catherine Keener is warm as she is in other films. However, her role along with David Arquette's are absolutely useless in this film.On a lighter note, the play (when they finally get to it) is very entertaining. Rock Me Sexy Jesus is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS and catchy. The other songs are very fun too. It was well thought out and played. Sad to say, it wasn't enough.It seems to me that the writers had this great idea for a whimsical play. However, the play itself would never fly with the production company. So they decided to write this horrendous storyline and package this great play with it. Unfortunately, the drabness of said packaging leaves one frustrated with the lack of Hamlet 2 in Hamlet 2.
Could have been great, and still very funny...
posted on 09 Jul 2009The movie that not only distinguishes itself as having the hit song "Rock Me Sexy, Jesus", but also has the musical number of the song, alone merits viewing. However, Writer and Director Andrew Fleming's "Hamlet 2" is charmingly and oddly uneven. It's about half hit and half miss. Although, it still gets an "A" for effort. Steve Coogan as failed actor turned high school drama teacher Dana Marschz is so passionate in bringing theater alive for his students in Tucson, Arizona. "Hamlet 2" is a play within a movie—similar to "Tropic Thunder" which was the movie within the movie. Coincidently, Coogan was brilliant in "Tropic Thunder". Unfortunately writers Fleming and Pam Brady's "Hamlet 2" falters; where as "Tropic Thunder" boldly and humorously offends all—with no one left out—throughout the entire movie.Glaringly, the play written by Coogan's character is the funniest part of the movie—hilariously tasteless with a sense of sentimentality. The story leading up to the play is very pedestrian with pockets of quirkiness and laughs. My bud John also pointed out that "Hamlet 2" suffers from weak casting. Catherine Keener has that right blend of wackiness and edge as Dana's suffering wife Brie, who drowns her sorrows in margaritas. Can't figure out what David Arquette's character Gary, who rents a room from the Marschz's, provides to the story. He is nothing but a plot point. Marshall Bell as Marschz's arch nemesis Principal Rocker is a threatening two dimensional card board cut out.Elizabeth Shue as Elizabeth Shue is amazing. "Hamlet 2" gets bonus points for that coup. There is the hilarious scene where Marschz (Coogan) asks if Shue is in fact his favorite actress from "Leaving Las Vegas" and "Adventures in Babysitting". Nurse Shue says "Yeah, I am her…" Marschz exclaims, "Oh, my… I'm freaking out!" Coogan is very funny here, although he seems miscast. This is odd. In his smaller role in "Tropic Thunder" he displayed an exasperated and arrogant edge. In "Hamlet 2" he is subdued, somewhat edgeless until the very end of the movie. Coogan as Marschz is all in earnest. The miscalculation may be that the audience feels sorrow for Marschz, as opposed to having great empathy for him. Instead he occurs as a geeky loser.We first see Marschz (Coogan) in a production with his star students Rand (fluffy Skylar Astin) and Epiphany (perky Phoebe Strole) performing a play based on the motion picture "Erin Brockovich". The play is a critical failure—at least in the school paper. That student critic enrolls Marschz into writing an original play. This may be Marschz's last chance, because the school is terminating the drama program. Hence, Marschz writes his opus—"Hamlet 2". As you and I know along with Dana's wife Brie: Everyone dies at the end of "Hamlet". Dana points out, "I have a device…" That device is a time machine. Therein lies a bizarre genius, and allows for the appearance of Jesus. Of course Marschz plays the role of Jesus. His unlikely student advocate Octavio (good Joseph Julian Soria) demonstrates a commanding presence as Hamlet. Besides bordering on the sacrilegious and being completely tasteless, Principal Rocker bans the play. Coming to the rescue is ACLU attorney Cricket Feldstein (hysterical Amy Poehler). "Hamlet 2" just screams Freedom of Speech. At the same time Marschz's life slowly unravels. Finally, his student Yolanda (quiet and funny Natalie Amenula) says, "Stop being a p----!" The show must go on.Director Fleming has a quirky hilarious touch. There is the Gay Men's Choir of Tucson's rendition of "Maniac" from "Flashdance". There is Coogan waking up sans pants after an ill advised acid trip. The musical dance number of "Rock Me Sexy, Jesus" is hauntingly hysterical. Over all "Hamlet 2" is funny. The writers throw out a lot of jokes, with some sticking. However, it could have been ruthlessly hysterical and edgy given the story's novel premise. Still "Hamlet 2" is creative and funny on its own merit.
Disappointing
posted on 07 Jul 2009As someone who would watch Steve Coogan in almost anything and as an English student, I was really looking forward to this. "A comedy about a lousy theatre teacher who puts on a sequel to Hamlet? How could it miss?", I thought. If the film had focused more on the play instead of trying to be a mish-mash of Dangerous Minds, School of Rock and any number of misguided comedies about naive man-children, it would've been fairly awesome. Instead the film tries too hard to be too many things and fails to do any of them well.Firstly, what's up with Coogan's accent? Personally I would've preferred it if he played a British teacher in an American school (if nothing else, it would've made the Shakespeare connection funnier), but instead he puts on an admittedly passable American accent that I found unnecessary and jarring. His performance is fantastic besides that one quibble, although he isn't given much to work with.I fully agree with some of the other commenters when they say that Catherine Keener and David Arquette are pointless here, which is a shame as I love Keener in movies like Living in Oblivion and 40 Year Old Virgin, but she is totally wasted here as a relentless shrew. In fact, apart from the scene where Elizabeth Shue explains her reasons for leaving acting, Coogan's is the only really good performance here, with the supporting cast being mostly indistinguishable.The aspects of the plot to do with the drama class (ie. most of the plot) are especially banal and forced. I would've enjoyed it more if, instead of being landed with a group of "troubled teens" (can we please rest this dusty old cliché for a damn change?), Coogan had a class of students like the two suck-ups he has at the start. Riffing on Dangerous Minds just gives the film a very cheesy edge, when a film about a dedicated drama class putting on a horrible play would be far more entertaining than an awkward attempt at commentary on arts funding in public schools.Speaking of the plot, the main thing that stopped me from enjoying this film was the fact that practically every aspect of the plot seemed half-written. Coogan's students fall into line for no concrete reason other than narrative convenience, there seems to be no reason why his marriage is still somewhat intact and most of the jokes are stilted and unfunny.I tried really hard to like this, but ultimately it just wasn't good enough. A let-down.
Hamlet 2...a boring drab of a movie that doesn't entertain until the very end
posted on 23 Jun 2009This was honestly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The story is supposed to be about a drama teacher who writes a sequel to Hamlet in order to save the Drama program but it ends up just being a movie with stereotypical characters who never develop any connection with the audience with some catchy and entertaining songs within the last 20 minutes movie.I don't know if it was the script or Steve Coogan himself, but his character tries too hard to be funny and it just doesn't work. Too many gag jokes with bad timing, lines that seem to be said just to get a laugh because they are offensive, and a character who is oversimplified and overdone.Every other character in the movie with the exception of Elizabeth Shue is a stereotype and never changes throughout the entire movie until again within the last 10 minutes of the movie when everything seems to culminate in what seems to be the directors wanting to actually show something entertaining in the form of some rather odd, yet entrancing songs and a short, but hard to follow play that is supposed to be the redeeming grace for the main character.All in all, I would not recommend seeing this movie at all unless a friend lets you borrow it or it starts being broadcast on TV. While watching it, there were several times I wanted to walk out of the theater because it was boring and dull but I wanted to give it a chance and see if it ever becomes entertaining...which it does, somewhat in the last 15-20 minutes or so, but overall, I wasn't impressed and would never watch this movie again.
AWFUL - just a waste of time
posted on 09 Jun 2009OK where do I start? This has got to be one of the worst movies I ever have seen my entire lifetime. Sorry but movie shouldn't earned (1)Star. I have no idea how this even left the shelf. I was curious who even wrote this screenplay - Pam Brady- by looking at this resume, I am definitely will not be seeing Dallas and by looking at previous history - I now know how horrible it is. There was nothing funny in this movie but David Arquette. Steve Coogan, this definitely will damage your career, by this you acted like you had never been in a drama class ever in your life. I really don't know where else to start- I walked out of this movie, I really don't want to know how it ended "OR" cared. This was a total waste of my time. The Moguls was my worst movie but this HAMLET 2 sure is up on my TOP of worst all time horrible movies. Definitely RAZZIES are coming your way. Catherine Keener - what happened with you on this? OMG you are a really good actress. Horrible acting in this movie all around. This movie will definitely will NOT make any money whatsoever. Total waste of time. No wonder there is no trailers at all on this movie or any kind of advertisement whatsoever.
Charming Blasphemy, Thy name is Sexy Jesus.
posted on 30 May 2009"Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go." --Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene I.It's blasphemous and filthy and irreverent. And hilarious.HAMLET 2 is GREASE slipping on the banana peel of Jesus Christ SUPERSTAR; a ripping satire on "inspirational teacher" films of all stripes, from DANGEROUS MINDS to DEAD POET'S SOCIETY.Steve Coogan (one of the most underrated comedians in film today) is Dana Marschz, high school drama teacher and wannabe thespian, who takes his art quite seriously - "To act is to live" - but finds his career spiraling down a drain of bit parts and herpes commercials.He lives with wife, Brie (Catherine Keener), and their roommate, Gary (David Arquette, in an obtuse role where Gary's only purpose is to steal Dana's wife and give Dana the second act rock bottom moment, "I lost my job! My wife left me!"...).His two star milky-white W.A.S.P. students, Rand (Skylar Astin) and Epiphany (Phoebe Strole, a junior Elisabeth Shue) are shocked when Dana's drama class inherits a group of seemingly underprivileged Mexican students.With this ragtag band of first-time actors, Dana doggedly starts rejuvenating and resurrecting the school's drama department, through the adversity of the drama budget being cancelled, his wife leaving him, and writing and producing his masterwork, HAMLET 2, a sequel to The Bard's immortal play. Dana's bizarre reimagining of HAMLET serves as a catharsis for Dana's father issues.Of Dana's class, the most foreboding gangsta of the bunch, Octavio (Joseph Julian Soria), turns out to be a powerful young actor with a searing sexuality, which Dana is shocked to discover, as are we the audience. This is the first cliché to be tipped on its head, with hilarious results: When Octavio's father (Marco Rodriguez) forbids Octavio to take part in Dana's play, it is not because he does not want him doing something creative - it is because he does not want Shakespeare's play sullied with a sequel! Whereas Dana thought Octavo's father would be a poor, ignorant Mexican who needed a talking to, he meets a rich author who gives him salient reasons why HAMLET 2 is a ridiculous idea.Dana actually meets the real Elisabeth Shue (as herself), sick of acting and working as a nurse. Being an inspiration of Dana's, Shue enters the fold as his Muse. Amy Poehler kills again in a small role, as a lawyer willing to sue anyone who gets in Dana's way of staging his magnum opus...Hamlet uses a time machine to go back and save everyone from dying, somehow hooking up with Jesus along the way.Play opens with the song, Raped in the Face, a favorite line of Dana's on how he feels most of the time. Then the boppy blasphemy of the title song, Rock Me, Sexy Jesus, where just the sight of Coogan as dancing Jesus in tight blue jeans and white wife-beater is enough to turn anyone Hindu."But the guy's got lats that make me feel gay." Coogan never says a word during this GREASE-ian song and dance number, "And he's got a swimmer's bod like nobody do," yet the moonwalking on water and The Crane as he "kicks Satan's ass" is priceless.When Hamlet tells Laertes of his time-travel plan, Rand (playing Laertes) utters the closest thing to a Shakespeare line, in an over-enunciated delivery that bears forbidden fruit covered in goat cheese: "Your madness must not unwatched go!" Written by Andrew Fleming and Pam Brady (of SOUTH PARK) and directed by Fleming, HAMLET 2 hits some poignant thematic notes in the final act of Dana's HAMLET 2, with everyone being saved (Gertrude, Laertes, Ophelia) and Jesus advising Hamlet on forgiving his father, as Jesus must forgive his.By the time the real Albuquerque Gay Men's Choir is performing Elton's Someone Saved My Life Tonight, we're choking up in a powerful climax, where Hamlet gets the chance to say "Father, I forgive you!" to a ghostly image; with Jesus descending from the rafters on a cable, Coogan tragically lamenting, "Father, I forgive you... I forgive you." Though this be madness, yet there is method in't. And this madness must not unwatched go...
Sketch comedy skit padded to feature length
posted on 20 May 2009This movie started out very promisingly but then completely lost its momentum. By the time you get to the Big Show you're so bored you just don't care. And the Big Show just isn't scathing or outrageous enough to be shocking. In order for a story like this to work, it has to be grounded in a believable "reality" (the world of the movie);but from the get-go you just don't buy it, and the whole thing falls apart. And the lead here (Coogan) is just too creepy to care for. Everyone else is just nasty and self-serving. Elizabeth Shue is there in the service of an idea that is never interestingly developed. That's the problem with this whole movie. You can tell the people who wrote and directed it thought it was way more clever, scabrous, and funny then it actually is. You shouldn't be sitting there in the theater counting the plot holes, flaws, and inconsistencies. Kind of kills the magic.
This Movie Brightened My Day
posted on 10 May 2009I had to drive all the way from Palm Springs to Los Angeles to watch "Hamlet 2." Traffic drama notwithstanding, the 2-hour trek is all worth it! I laughed out loud watching this film, which is really a parody of a tragedy. Here are the pluses: Steve Coogan -- he anchors this film from start to finish. He embodies his optimistic loser role. And those great, broad physical comedy? Wow! Catherine Keener -- only she can lift a one-dimensional role into a living, breathing, likable bitch :)Elizabeth Shue -- I heard that she injected a lot of self-deprecating scenes into her role, very UN-Hollywood of her! Musical Scenes -- it's ironic that the play, supposed to be the worst play ever, is the focal point and the bright, shining light of the film. The "high school" cast -- they each embody stereotypes, and then collectively break through the norms of their roles.And you know? This is not your "white teacher goes to the ghetto to teach the students life-affirming lessons" film. I applaud the movie for recognizing that, and going one step further.Irreverent wit -- if you like the UN-PC qualities of South Park, you will love this film! The only minuses I can think of are not enough character development, specially among the kids in school, and Keneer's twist, while predictable, still feels off-center and trite.But trust me, you'll laugh and have a great time! I went to see "Hamlet 2" with a friend of mine who's not into the broad comedy genre and fell in love with the movie! Honestly? The only folks who will hate this film are the ones who live in Tucson, Arizona :)
Hamlet 2 is monotonous until the last 15 or so minutes
posted on 08 May 2009This was another movie I let my friend who works at a theatre pick so at least we got to see this for free. What I'm trying to say is that Hamlet 2-about a drama teacher's staging a sequel to a tragic Shakespere play as a musical that involves time travel and Jesus-has witless characters and stereotypes during the scenes leading to the play's performance which is when the movie comes to life during the last 15 or so minutes. The rest you have to suffer through Steve Coogan's performance and his dull scenes with wife Catherine Keener and border David Arquette. And the Hispanic gang that is forced to attend Coogan's class which previously had a white girl and a gay white boy grates for a while though there's a nice twist on one of them and his parents. I also liked the performance of "Maniac" and Elton John's "Butterfly" and the "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" number and many of Amy Poehler's lines as an ACLU lawyer ("I'm married to a Jew!"). And Elizabeth Shue as herself provides some amusement. But since it takes a while to get to the climax, I'd only recommend Hamlet 2 if your willing to suffer through the first monotonous hour.
Terrible Director ruins a potentially good comedy
posted on 16 Apr 2009If anyone wonders how the choice of a director can affect a movie, look at "Hamlet 2." There's a lot of potentially funny material in this film, but director Andrew Fleming fails to cultivate much from it. There are a lot of directors that are hired because they are cheap, not because their style will bring anything unique to the film (some know them as "directors for hire"). However, looking at "Hamlet 2," it makes us realize that while they may not carry the weight of say, the Coen Brothers or Steven Spielberg, if they can make a good film they know what they're doing. However, the flip side is also true: a poor director can ruin a potentially good film.Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) is a wannabe actor. Unfortunately, he is terrible at it, so in order to pay the bills, he has to take a job as a high school drama teacher. He sees this as an opportunity to "inspire" his students (insert reference to "Dead Poet's Society" here cause the movie's way ahead of you). However, save for his two suck-ups, no one pays attention. But when the School Board decides to cancel drama, he decides to write his own original play to save it. However, the new play causes a storm of controversy in Tuscon, Arizona (where the film is set).It's hard to address the acting when the director lets them down so much. Steve Coogan is an able comedian. He gives it his all, but his talents are wasted. Same goes for the rest of the cast, which includes Amy Poehler (in what is hardly larger than a cameo), Catherine Keener, David Arquette, and Elizabeth Shue (as Elizabeth Shue, playing off her real-life undeservedly lackluster career).In every way, Andrew Fleming fails as a director with this film. He doesn't know the concept of comic timing. He can't establish an even flow throughout the film. The film's plot is complex, and Fleming appears at a loss as to what to do with it all. Worst of all, he can't inject any life into it the film. Based on his resume, it's not especially surprising that the film is so lackluster (his past credits include "Dick," "The Craft," and "Nancy Drew." Let's hope Andrew Fleming doesn't ruin another film.
Flawed, but good
posted on 14 Apr 2009While definitely flawed, I liked this film quite a bit. A high school drama teacher (Steve Coogan, yet again trying to break into the American market) writes his first-ever original play for his students after many failures at adapting popular Hollywood movies. Unfortunately, this play, a sequel to Hamlet in which Hamlet and Jesus travel through time, is a little bit offensive for high school. The principal tries shutting it down, but Coogan and his students are eager to go on with it, even garnering defense from the ACLU. The film's main problem is that the play itself, which makes up the climax of the movie, isn't as much fun as you expect from the previous descriptions. Much of the stuff that leads up to the play is quite wonderful, though. I think Coogan's character is very well written, a former alcoholic who wanted to be a famous actor but wasn't talented, who has ended up with a small, deteriorating high school program, who has a wife (Catherine Keener, great) who misses out on no opportunity to emasculate him. Coogan does an American accent, which at first annoyed me, but which I eventually figured out lent a lot to his wound-up character. The high school students are also very funny. Elisabeth Shue has a role as herself which should have been funnier than it is, but it's nice to see her again.
Not For The Feint Of Heart
posted on 23 Mar 2009In a year punctuated with very funny movies, "Hamlet 2" stands out as the most peculiar and comedically risky. Its style of humor is an almost indescribable mixture of social satire, broad slapstick, and dry irony. I've seen it twice, seven months apart, and while I laughed through most of it both times, I can also see how some viewers will come away scratching their heads and wondering what's supposed to be so funny.The star is Steve Coogan, a beloved British comedian who still isn't being hailed as a genius in the United States. (Meanwhile, Dane Cook gets one movie deal after another.) He plays Dana Marschz, a mostly untalented actor who endured a number of humiliating show-biz gigs before giving up and moving to Tucson, Ariz. ("Where dreams go to die"). Now he is the drama teacher at West Mesa High School, specializing in stage adaptations of popular movies like "Erin Brockovich," which he writes himself and which invariably must be two-person shows because he only has two students in his class. One, a girl named Epiphany (Phoebe Strole), is a typical drama queen; the other, Rand (Skylar Astin), idolizes, and is probably in love with, Mr. Marschz.After budget cutbacks result in the cancellation of most other electives, Dana's class is suddenly full of students, though most of them have little interest in being there. Determined to be an inspiring educator like the ones he's seen in "Dead Poet's Society" and "Mr. Holland's Opus," Dana tries to reach out to these kids, who are all Latino and, Dana assumes, from the wrong side of town. Dana is a lot like Michael Scott from "The Office": unaware of his own imbecility and eager to show everyone how gifted he is, despite not having any gifts.Soon the budget cutbacks, mixed with a string of scorching reviews from the school paper's theater critic, threaten to shut down the drama program, too. Dana has one last chance to stage a show that will raise money and awareness. It has to be a dozy. It has to be memorable. He settles on an original script he's been writing, a little thing called "Hamlet 2." That title is arbitrary, perhaps chosen to give the movie a hook. ("'Hamlet 2'?! Now that sounds like a crazy comedy I should definitely go see!") What Dana Marschz writes only begins with Hamlet (who escapes death via a time machine) and becomes more accurately a musical investigation into Dana's own childhood traumas and his unresolved issues with his father. We see snippets of it in rehearsals and a huge chunk of it at the end of the film, when the play is staged before a shocked audience. Hamlet isn't the only literary figure of note to be included, either -- Jesus is here, too, a hip Jesus who moonwalks on water and scores big with the modern generation.Before we get there, though, there is controversy as the community learns about the edgy elements of Dana's show. The ACLU steps in (kudos to Amy Poehler for a brief but memorable turn as the group's humorless representative), and Dana experiences massive self-doubt. He is not helped by his hilariously unsupportive wife, Brie, played with all the scathing sarcasm and apathy that the great Catherine Keener can muster (which is considerable, as you know if you've seen Catherine Keener in almost anything). Ultimately, the kids realize the lesson Dana has taught them: "It doesn't matter how much talent we lack, as long as we have enthusiasm." There are elements of several different kinds of movies (the Inspiring Teacher Drama, the Teen Comedy, the Let's Put On a Show! Musical, etc.), all of them relentlessly and absurdly satirized in a screenplay by Pam Brady, a "South Park" collaborator who also co-wrote the "South Park" movie and "Team America: World Police." Her work here is co-credited with the film's director, Andrew Fleming, who made 1999's under-seen political comedy "Dick" and last year's better-than-you'd-think "Nancy Drew." Dana Marschz (that's pronounced with three syllables, "Mar-zh-ce") is an oblivious, "Waiting for Guffman" type, the sort of character who never does realize what a loser he is. I'd be hard-pressed to identify any unifying theme to the film's whimsy, any connective tissue between the various things it makes fun of. Why do Dana and Brie have a dull boarder (David Arquette) living with them? Why does Elisabeth Shue appear as herself, tired of Hollywood and now working in Tucson as a nurse at a fertility clinic? Because it's odd and bemusing, that's why.When "Hamlet 2" is finally performed, the audience is initially outraged by the portrayal of Jesus (played by Dana, looking strangely like "Weird Al" Yankovic), as well as the show's other highly offensive sexual material. Then they come to see that the show means no disrespect, that it's a commentary on stuff, and the scandalous nature of it is necessary to make its point. They say, "Oh, I get it!" But I think the joke is that they're wrong -- there ISN'T any deeper, more honorable message in it. There's nothing to get. Though Dana earnestly believes he's making a valid point, I think his show -- that is to say, the movie -- is being sacrilegious and dirty solely for laughs, a way of poking fun at how high-minded Hollywood satirists like to do something taboo while claiming to have noble purposes for it. (See: the recent controversy surrounding "Tropic Thunder" and the word "retard.") Many humorists are edgy just for the sake of being edgy, and "Hamlet 2" makes fun of them by doing the same thing, only with self-awareness.
"Hamlet 2" Movie Review
posted on 21 Mar 2009One would think that a musical based on a Shakespearian play in which most the characters die at the end would be, in a word, impossible. But that would just be plain pessimistic according to Dana Marschz a high school drama teacher in Tucson, AZ and the main character of "Hamlet 2" the movie and the play. Played by British funnyman Steve Coogan (also seen in this summer's "Tropic Thunder"), Marschz is an enthusiastic thespian just trying to inspire his students and make ends meet at home (one effort for saving money – roller skating to work). Hamlet 2 offers a cast full of comedic actors as well as some funny and touching moments that aren't quite up to the "Waiting for Guffman" level but bring a modern take on ye ol' theater and inspirational movie. To read more go to http://moviesworketc.blogspot.com/2008/09/hamlet-2-movie-review.html
Woah
posted on 13 Mar 2009To start, let me say that if you don't like comedy that relies heavily on profanity, you won't like this movie. If you don't like satire and social commentary that is concealed by curse words, you won't like this movie. If you don't like the idea of Jesus wearing tight jeans and a white tank-top, dancing provocatively with teenagers and moon-walking on water, you will *hate* this movie. Stop reading this review right now and don't bother, because you won't appreciate it and it will be a waste of your time.But, if none of that stuff bothers you, watch Hamlet 2 NOW, or you will regret it.What begins as the tale of a failed commercial actor-turned-Drama-teacher becomes a funny and enjoyable fight to put on a controversial play as Dana Marchtz (Steve Coogan) tries to save the Drama program at an Arizona high school. Dana is married to a sardonic woman, he lives with a lazy border, his Drama class has two (typical Drama geek) students who can't act, the school critic is a prepubescent word-smith who hates his work, and to top it all off, he just might be sterile. His life, in a word, blows. But when budget cuts force a large group of heavily Latino students to take Drama as their elective, Dana is faced with a golden opportunity. If he can't put on a powerhouse play, the Drama program will be eradicated also, and the new kids might just be the actors he needs to produce "Hamlet 2", his magnum opus.With Amy Poehler and Elizabeth Shue in great (but regrettably small) supporting roles, this movie can't miss. It's hilarious, it's smart, and the chunk of the actual play at the end (with the so-called blasphemous song "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" at it's core) was a real bang-for-your-buck ending, where even the conservative Bible Study kids got into the sacrilege. I guarantee you it will make you laugh, cry (with laughter), and want to get up and go join a Drama class. Just pray to Sexy Jesus that if you do, Steve Coogan is not your teacher.
A failed actor turned drama teacher goes for one last hit.
posted on 11 Mar 2009Satire and parody can be a g-dsend if done right, and for most of this movie it is done right. The overall premise is that we have a bad actor who never quite made it (the beginning sequences where we see what he did as an actor are quite good), and somehow manages to become a drama teacher at a high school in Tucson, Arizona. What I did not like were the derogatory references to Tucson itself, and thankfully those were few. What I also did not like, even though in reality we would see a lot of Latino students at a high school in this area, was some typecasting, which thankfully Coogan's character cleared up. That was smart scriptwriting, though for a while the audience had to put up with the stereotyping of specific individuals. What made this movie better, though, was Catherine Keener, who, at least in everything she has been in that I have seen, was superb as the self-absorbed and wicked wife who lets her hubby down. And she does it so well. David Arquette also managed to pull off his character without any of us cringing. But overall the basic plot was predictable and we knew how it was going to end, like so many movies, and what started out as something different turned into just one more "Hollywood" movie that was okay, but we wished there was something more to it. I will say that the actual production of Hamlet 2, especially the musical numbers, was good. One for the DVD rental.
"I'm simultaneously horrified and fascinated" says it all
posted on 03 Mar 2009Those who can't do, teach and so it goes for failed writer/actor Dana Marschz, who finds himself living with his wife in Tucson, Arizona teaching drama – normally to a class of two. The reviews are consistently poor but he carries on unabated and seeming unaware of his own limitations. Several things change this term though. His last show (a theatre adaption of Erin Brockovich) got a terrible review, his wife is growing more and more impatient with her life and suddenly his class is full of ethnics who are not interested in anything he is doing. He takes the critical advice that he should do original work and decides to write a sequel to Hamlet involving a time-machine and a daddy issues. The stakes are raised when drama is cancelled and the wider community get wind of what his play involves.I do quite like Steve Coogan and he was the reason I bothered to catch this movie despite the generally poor marketing. What I found was a weird mix that is best summed up by one the audience of the play within the film. At one point he says that he is both horrified and fascinated and those are both kind of emotions that I felt while watching this. We have a couple of things going here as the film is spoofing the "ragtag pupils coming good" genre by having them do drama with an "inspirational" teacher at the head of the class. On the face of it, the project sounds like it could be really good if it manages to hit the right tone, deliver consistent laughs and have the right amount of well observed character humour that Steve Coogan is good at. From that last sentence you can see where I'm going with this already right? The thing is that, of all the things that it needs to have to work as well as it could, most of them don't come off. The basic plot does offer up an absurd exaggeration of the genre but too many of the scenes and too much of the dialogue do not. What this means is that the film often comes over like a really bad genre movie. The play itself is an example of it not doing this and it manages to hit the target of being so daft that it is a funny spoof. Sadly the majority of the film before this does not do this and a lot of it is quite painful to watch – and not painful in a funny & awkward way but funny in a "how did they get it so wrong" way. It does have some great moments that are very funny but they are unfortunately in the minority and what remains is silly material that just doesn't work. Sadly Coogan is part of the problem. This is not his character and it shows because he plays it in a way that doesn't seem natural. He also seems to be concentrating a lot on his American accent and this detracts a bit because when he is at his best he is playing a drama version of Partridge (unaware of himself but visible to everyone else) but to do this he moves further from his accent. I'm not sure why he couldn't have played it English as it would have been better at least in terms of presentation.The supporting cast has plenty of famous faces and these generally perform well despite not having enough to do. Keener and Arquette drift across their scenes, the latter having almost nothing to say far less do. The cast of kids have some amusing turns but the material is not really there for them to be funnier. Poehler is the highlight of the piece with a killer character to match her killer delivery of killer lines, her turn made me think "see – this is the film I wanted to see", such a shame she had so few scenes but she raises the whole thing whenever she is even near the camera.The potential is all there in this film and at times it is really funny, the problem is that it is very sporadic. The rest of it is either quite "so-so" or nearly as painful as the play itself – the key difference being that the play is meant to be painful, the rest of the film is not. This potential and the high points kept me fascinated so I kept watching though the horrible or horrifying bits. I do like Steve Coogan and enjoy a lot of what he does but here he is part of the problem as he cannot make a character from the material, while similar problems also prevent the film getting anywhere near what it could have been and, at times, being a painful experience to watch.
My heart's been stepped on like a baby kitten…Hamlet 2
posted on 27 Feb 2009If you have any predilection for being offended or hail from the quaint city of Tucson, Arizona, stay far away from Andrew Fleming's Hamlet 2. To say it pulls no punches and could care less about being politically correct would be an understatement. With a song titled "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" and racism/bigotry running rampant, not to mention more that will make you question the meaning of decency, do not be surprised that it's a film with a polarizing effect. A much talked about Sundance hit, you will be easily able to find a lot of bad press and scathing reviews. Much like the play Dana Marschz is attempting to put on at the high school he teaches in, religious zealots and liberal whack-jobs come out of the woodwork to show their disgust for a piece of art they have not seen to be able to accurately judge. It is definitely not for everyone, and I don't even know who I could genuinely recommend it to as a surefire hit besides the friend I attended the screening with, but for this sarcasm-loving, don't hold back on an opportunity to exploit anything for a joke kind of guy, I loved it.OK, maybe love is a strong word. About halfway through I was thinking about how the jokes were becoming a bit slow and while funny, the story wasn't quite clicking with me. However, soon came the fruition of all the drug-induced, bi-polar craziness with the actual performance of Hamlet 2 on stage for the sold-out crowd filled with detractors, interested parties, confused family members, and people just trying to get in on the experience. If you saw Team America: World Police and recall the scene with a performance of "Lease", their play on "Rent", you can begin to comprehend the utter absurdity and absolute hilarity of what is shown. Multiply that to the nth degree and sit back to experience laughter that will make you cringe at the fact you are laughing. And to top it all off, we are treated to some sprinklings of physical comedy—the wirework expunging of our two lightsaber wielding actors—and choreography that only enhances the words being spoken.Revolving around the very real prospect in many small cities across America of the potential to have the arts cut from school budget, Hamlet 2 is about a failed actor, (he has long accepted his lack of talent), trying for once to show he has a pair of low-hangers to save his job and the craft he believes can inspire children into following their dreams. What begins as a pipe dream itself, backhandedly advised by a very young, yet extremely articulate, school film reviewer, snowballs into an event that brings the ACLU's attention as well as the minds of many "troubled" kids to trade the street for the "leotard". It's blasphemy to even think about writing a sequel to Shakespeare's "Hamlet" let alone bringing Jesus in as a celebrity sex symbol. This is a creative work of genius, if nothing else. True you may find it offensive and down right trashy, but you have to at least show the respect for an artist to take a vision and not compromise it one iota before showing to the public. One thing you cannot accuse this film of is pandering to the masses in order to make money; no its blatantly giving the finger to all of us, wearing its unassuming bigotry on its sleeve like many of the clueless members of our society.None of it could have been pulled off without the help of star Steve Coogan. He encompasses the shy, passive, loser to full effect, complete with outbursts of strength that soon explode into fear and embarrassment as he runs for cover. His awkward use of English is also great as his similes and metaphors never quite work as effectively as he may want, instead showing latent cruelty and sick-mindedness like with the heading of this review; oh and phrases like "it feels like I was raped…in the face." Coogan is likable as an everyman without all his wits, bumbling through life, falling into situations that help him to enhance his work and make it into the smash hit it could be. Without the pain he never could have written what his character of Marschz does. And you can't help but fall in love with his rendition of Jesus as jean wearing Weird Al Yankovic.Amy Poehler also has a good cameo as the ACLU lawyer ready to make some coin off of the slam dunk First Amendment case the controversy breeds. Hearkening back to her "Upright Citizens Brigade" days, this role is crass and deadpan, effective mostly by the juxtaposition of her diminutive size and sharp, biting tongue. The real scene-stealer, though, is Elizabeth Shue, playing Elizabeth Shue. This meta-character is added as a foil to Coogan's failed actor wanting to desperately get into the business. She instead was successful and needed to get out. In a very self-deprecating role, Shue shows that she is still gorgeous and possibly ready for a comeback to the big screen.Again, though, I shouldn't really say love. There were a lot of problems here, that, while can easily be swept under the rug, stick out. The planting of plot devices like Coogan's seven years sober and the mute and abused girl in class who just screams Silent Bob moment of clarity at the end, do harm to the otherwise fresh script. Everyone needs to use clichés at times, so I do forgive them, especially when they are surrounded by the comedy gold accompanying it. Hamlet 2 will stir the pots and possibly make you feel angry, but just remember it's a satire. Nothing here is meant to harm—I would say it's meant to inspire, but that would just be weird considering some of the jokes—instead it's there to entertain. I for one was highly entertained.
only a little more than South Park-lite thanks to Steve Coogan
posted on 19 Feb 2009Hamlet 2 is sophomoric, satirical, stupid, trying to be smart while being stupid, and anchored by another winning go-for-broke comic turn from Steve Coogan. It's hard for me to see him doing much wrong, be it the segment with Alfred Molina in Coffee and Cigarettes, 24 Hour Party People or, most of all, Tristram Shandy. It's the biggest credit of all that he is even able to make this film directed and co-written by Andrew Fleming as watchable and occasionally clever as it is. He tries, Lord, oh how he tries to rise up this character into something really memorable, and it is. Though not too ironically while he gave the more prominent and funnier performances in Hamlet 2 his supporting turn in this month's Tropic Thunder was another reminder how brilliantly stupid that was compared to this.Perhaps it's also a difference in talent- instead of Robert Downey Jr giving the bravura comic performance of his career we get Amy Pohler in a hysterical and unsatisfying bit as an ACLU attorney and Elisabeth Shue as, well, Elisabeth Shue- but there's also a factor in the script that separates one as a modern classic and the other as more of a minor work (if more raunchy and intentionally un-PC). It's about a down on his luck actor played by Coogan who's married to a drunk wife (Catherine Keener) who scoffs at him any chance she can and after striking out in commercial gigs now teaches pro-bono as a drama teacher at a high school. He's about to get thrown off that gig too (unlike Max Fischer in Rushmore he can't seem to get luck putting theatrical adaptations of screen classics like Erin Brockovich) due to budget cuts, but suddenly gets inspiration: he writes Hamlet 2, a crude musical about a time machine, a rock 'n' roll Jesus, and face-rape.It's in part a parody of all those goody-too-shoes feel-good movies of inspiration with the teacher leading the rag-tag group of kids into something worth their while (Dead Poets Society is mentioned more than once in this regard), and as a lighter and more raw satire on celebrity and the craft of acting. Sadly, however, it's a slightly hit or miss affair; sometimes I'm laughing a whole lot as some of the scenes and set-pieces, other times I'm rolling my eyes or lightly groaning at the obvious moments even as I know they're taken as a goof on other movies.The script was co-written by South Park writer Pam Brady, and it's worth noting that a lot of the humor is akin to that Parker/Stone creation (there's even a character slightly akin to a Kenny, a mute girl who gets knocked about every other scene till towards the end when she SPEAKS UP in caps), only it lacks that really stinging wit and almost arrogance in going to the limits to offend with hilariousness. The closest she and Fleming come to this delirious attention to detail is with the actual musical as the climax, with everything from a Grease send up ("Rock Me, Sex Me, Jesus" is my favorite) to Elton John is used, and even then there's an inter-cutting scheme to the big brew-haha outside with protesters and firefighters and Amy Pohler screaming about who knows what.And at the center of it all is Coogan, who delivers on little things like singing poetical on a keyboard to Flashdance songs and is funny just skating on his roller skates everywhere because he doesn't have a car; and don't get him started if he's got acid or grain alcohol in his system. It's a swell showcase for his talents, and maybe shows some promise with the high school kids, but it's also kind of a slight work. I wouldn't say it's a very good movie, but if you must rock your sexy Jesus on, or find Coogan the funniest thing around, then it's a good pit-stop for the moment. 6.5/10
"Hamlet 2" is a creative, funny, and original film with great dialogue and a hilarious breakthrough performance by Steve Coogan.
posted on 31 Dec 2008"Hamlet 2" follows the story of Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan), a failed actor who's only hope left in life is to run a success Drama department at a High School in Tucson, Arizona. Sadly, he can't even do that right as he is notified by Princess Rocker (Marshall Bell) that the school is canceling drama. With no one else to turn to but his rebellious students, Dana sets out to create the most original, most offensive, play ever to hit the stage. That play is Hamlet 2. Lots of witty dialogue and laugher ensues… "Hamlet 2" was considered one of the biggest hits at Sundance this past year and I can totally see why. I am a movie connoisseur by nature so I sit through some amazing films and some god-awful films. "Hamlet 2" is probably one of the most original and funny comedies I have seen in quite some time. Even though a few of the jokes fall flat, I would say that about 90% of them work and truly tickle the funny bone. That is a great ratio for comedies nowadays, especially since most comedies are so mundane and clichéd.There is a lot of good to say about "Hamlet 2" so I am going to start with the script. The film was penned by Andrew Fleming (he also directed) and Pam Brady, both of which do a great job with the screenplay. This films concept is so simple and that's why it works so well. Comedy doesn't require a complex script just a decent story, great dialogue, and good performances. "Hamlet 2" has all these things. Both Brady and Fleming wrote a screenplay that not only delivers the laughs but leaves you quoting one liners for days to come.Kudos points are definitely in order for Steve Coogan, who holds the entire film together with his wit and charm. He plays the lovable loser character all so well. I love the connections to movies and various plays he makes throughout the film. It is like an added bonus for those in the audience who love movies and theater. Coogan has proved twice this year (in this film as well as in "Tropic Thunder"), that he has with it takes and should be a big name comedic star. Besides Coogan, you have a lot of great supporting roles including all Dana's students in the film, Catherine Keener, the always funny Amy Poehler, and a hilarious performance by Elisabeth Shue. The cast plays off this fun and witty script with ease.In conclusion, "Hamlet 2" is the perfect independent comedy. It has a great screenplay, good performances, and originality. From the moment, "Hamlet 2" begins up until the final number this film provides non-stop laugher. "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" is without a doubt, the funniest song in this film although there is one other song that is probably just as good but I won't spoil that one here. Just know it's hilarious and might be found to be offensive by some viewers. All in All, there isn't much I didn't like about the film. It really lived up to my expectations and I had a blast at the movie. It's a shame to see this film hasn't done well but I hope it will be big when it hits DVD in a few months. If you do get a chance to see "Hamlet 2" in the theater run, don't walk because Jesus will be sure to rock you all night long! MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Hamlet 2" is a solid 9 out of 10, its probably one of the best and most original comedic films I have seen in years.
Awesome. Unexpected, witty, very funny.
posted on 12 Aug 2009Hamlet 2 is a very interesting film because it doesn't go with the typical plot (if at any point the plot does something cliché, it is to make fun of that cliché), and it contains humor which is strangely unique. In the beginning I was a little worried that the film would be too awkward to actually be hilarious, but in the end, that was the point...and it worked amazingly. The humor ranges from stupid to dry to very witty, and all of it is delivered amazingly by Steve Coogan and cast. Some of the lines are unexpected almost to the point of shocking, and as long as you are layed back, you will love it.There's not much to say. If you like ridiculous, you love it.