Pseudo-sequel fails to match hype
Hamlet 2 may have brought us the new smash single “Rock Me Sexy Jesus”, but it rarely delivers many laughs beyond its already ridiculous plot.
Year after year, West Mesa High School’s drama teacher Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan, “Tropic Thunder”) and his two star pupils produce plays based on Hollywood movies. During their entire run, not once have they received a good review from the local drama critic. Things begin to change when the school cancels all electives except drama.
With his class now filled with Latin American hoodlums trying to fulfill credits, he decides to produce his most original play to date, a sequel to Hamlet based on the abuse he received as a child from his father. Soon after production begins, Marschz learns the school is also planning on canceling drama and that they will not allow his racy script to be performed at the school. With nothing going right, Marschz and his class must now overcome the obstacles and put on the most controversial and innovative play ever.
As the fall season rolls in and the society’s youth returns to school, Hollywood prepares for its dead season by dumping some of its least appealing films into theaters. ‘Hamlet 2’ seemed ready to break the trend, but instead only strengthens the idea that good movies really are hard to come by this time of year. With clichéd slapstick and over- the-top acting from Coogan, it is hard to imagine what those audiences were smoking when they called this “The hit, the very palpable hit” of the Sundance Film Festival.
While far from a horrible film, “Hamlet 2” ultimately fails in not fully delivering what the title has to offer. The first 4/5 of the film is spent watching Coogan’s character spiral deeper down into a chaotic mess. Instead of watching the progression of the play, the audience gets to see Marschz’s struggle to make a baby with his overly depressed wife (Catherine Keener, “Into the Wild”). From time to time, the script delivers some clever one-liners, but mostly relies on Marschz falling on his butt or a mute girl getting hit in the head to deliver the laughs.
During the opening of the film, the narrator poetically states, “To act is to live.” Honestly, it is dumbfounding to think how the rest of the “Hamlet 2” cast can make a living off of their acting. With its highly touted supporting cast, including David Arquette and Elizabeth Shue, one would think that at least one of them would give a memorable performance. Sadly, this is not the case. Arquette’s character instantly goes down as one of the most useless and retarded performances in history. His biggest moment in the film comes when he talks about how sunny it is outside.
Elizabeth Shue eagerly tries to become the next Neil Patrick Harris by portraying herself, but also succeeds in being just another worthless addition to the cast. While Harris is portrayed as a man-god in the Harold and Kumar series, Shue is nothing more than a washed up actress willing to make fun of her crappy career for a few bucks.
When the film finally arrives at the first showing of the play and everyone, including the local firemen, is trying to shut it down, it finally achieves full comedy status. With witty and surprisingly well performed musical numbers such as “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” and “Raped in the Face”, “Hamlet 2” ends satisfyingly.
If you’re in the mood for a slow moving, self-righteous film that purposely tries to offend most religions, then “Hamlet 2” is the movie for you.
‘Hamlet 2’
Release Date: Aug. 22
Director: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, and Elizabeth Shue
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R for language, brief nudity and some drug content
Grade: C-
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on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 12:26 am and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Film Reviews, Vibe.
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August 26th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
so sorry that this movie you were so looking forward to seeing did not live up to your unusally high expectation but i told you that it was not going to be that great so i told you so i told you so
September 4th, 2008 at 1:41 am
“A slow moving, self-righteous film that purposely tries to offend most religions.” Hmm. Last time I checked, Christianity wasn’t the only religion. I didn’t find anything offensive toward Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, paganism, Confucianism, Jainism, Taoism, Sikhism or Baha`i. Then again, I’m sure Jay Brissenden’s intellectual prowess enabled him to see what the rest of the moviegoers missed.