Actors ham it up in 'Hamlet 2'
By Bruce R. Miller, Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008
Steve Coogan and Elisabeth Shue star in "Hamlet 2."
"Waiting for Guffman" made such an impression on the folks behind "Hamlet 2" they decided to do their own version.
In the new comedy - directed by Andrew Fleming - a washed-up actor tries to leave his mark on a high school drama class in Tucson, Ariz. Unfortunately, the students are hardly "High School Musical" quality and the principal is dead set against anything that smacks of controversy.
The school board, in fact, has cut the program, forcing the kids to take their show to an abandoned warehouse/meth lab.
There, they unite Hamlet and Jesus in a musical that's actually quite funny. Until the film's last third, however, "Hamlet 2" is a lot of "not to be."
British comedian Steve Coogan stars as Dana Marschz, a would-be actor who's used to mounting stage productions of films like "Erin Brockovich" and "Mississippi Burning." When his wife (a very funny Catherine Keener) cuts him down to size, he decides to write an original play that can catapult him to fame and, well, you get the picture.
Citing every "inspirational teacher" film on record, Marschz actually gets toughs from another school to join his two drama groupies. They have some pretty good acting chops and the connections to turn his hack writing into a sprawling piece of performance art.
When civil liberties officials catch wind of the controversy, they send in an attorney (Amy Poehler) who makes a little noise of her own.
The film's intro (divided into acts) toys with silly side stories and makes much of Marschz's inability to father children, but it's really the show within a show that draws the laughs. There, an ambitious musical number called "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" gets the blood pumping and the film moving.
By building to that moment (not unlike "Guffman"), "Hamlet 2" ends on a high note.
It also gives Elisabeth Shue a chance to check in after years of semi-retirement. Playing herself - as a nurse living in Tucson - she's able to say plenty about the business and the silliness of fame. When she cheers during the student production, you realize everyone in Hollywood doesn't toe the company line.
Coogan is fine as the mixed-up teacher. But the role could have been so much more with a stronger actor in the part. Put his Dana next to Guest's Corky St. Clair and there's no contest. It's Corky by a mile.
"Hamlet 2" could have used some trimming and a little more character for David Arquette. But it finds its rhythm and, eventually, becomes the film it wants to be.
Happy ending? Marschz gives his show one and Fleming does, too.
All's well that ends well? Perhaps another sequel is waiting in the woods.
Rated R, "Hamlet 2" features profanity, violence and brief nudity.
On a scale of four stars, "Hamlet 2" gets:
2 1/2 stars
In the new comedy - directed by Andrew Fleming - a washed-up actor tries to leave his mark on a high school drama class in Tucson, Ariz. Unfortunately, the students are hardly "High School Musical" quality and the principal is dead set against anything that smacks of controversy.
The school board, in fact, has cut the program, forcing the kids to take their show to an abandoned warehouse/meth lab.
There, they unite Hamlet and Jesus in a musical that's actually quite funny. Until the film's last third, however, "Hamlet 2" is a lot of "not to be."
British comedian Steve Coogan stars as Dana Marschz, a would-be actor who's used to mounting stage productions of films like "Erin Brockovich" and "Mississippi Burning." When his wife (a very funny Catherine Keener) cuts him down to size, he decides to write an original play that can catapult him to fame and, well, you get the picture.
Citing every "inspirational teacher" film on record, Marschz actually gets toughs from another school to join his two drama groupies. They have some pretty good acting chops and the connections to turn his hack writing into a sprawling piece of performance art.
When civil liberties officials catch wind of the controversy, they send in an attorney (Amy Poehler) who makes a little noise of her own.
The film's intro (divided into acts) toys with silly side stories and makes much of Marschz's inability to father children, but it's really the show within a show that draws the laughs. There, an ambitious musical number called "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" gets the blood pumping and the film moving.
By building to that moment (not unlike "Guffman"), "Hamlet 2" ends on a high note.
It also gives Elisabeth Shue a chance to check in after years of semi-retirement. Playing herself - as a nurse living in Tucson - she's able to say plenty about the business and the silliness of fame. When she cheers during the student production, you realize everyone in Hollywood doesn't toe the company line.
Coogan is fine as the mixed-up teacher. But the role could have been so much more with a stronger actor in the part. Put his Dana next to Guest's Corky St. Clair and there's no contest. It's Corky by a mile.
"Hamlet 2" could have used some trimming and a little more character for David Arquette. But it finds its rhythm and, eventually, becomes the film it wants to be.
Happy ending? Marschz gives his show one and Fleming does, too.
All's well that ends well? Perhaps another sequel is waiting in the woods.
Rated R, "Hamlet 2" features profanity, violence and brief nudity.
On a scale of four stars, "Hamlet 2" gets:
2 1/2 stars
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