Elisabeth Shue Movie:

Editorial Review:
Just when it seems as if things can't get any worse for high-school drama teacher Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan), he quips, "My life is a parody of a tragedy." Yet that very ability to laugh in the face of defeat will allow this failed actor to triumph over adversity. A lovably ridiculous dreamer like Waiting for Guffman’s Corky St. Clair, Marschz lives in Tucson with his sarcastic wife (Catherine Keener) and their silent boarder (David Arquette). Though he tries to inspire, like Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus, only two students (Spring Awakening’s Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole) share his passion for theatrics. When the principal decides to eliminate his department, Marschz makes a bold move: he writes an original play, lets the class contribute their own unique talents, and puts the whole thing on as a fundraiser (they'll need to bring in $6,000). Sure, everyone dies at the end of Shakespeare's classic, but in Marschz’s musical sequel, Hamlet 2, a time machine allows the Danish prince to turn back the clock to set things right. Just as his production starts to take shape and retired actress Elisabeth Shue (played by Shue) offers her support, his marriage hits the rocks, he starts drinking again, and the community protests against numbers like "Rock Me Sexy Jesus." (Amy Poehler portrays his ACLU attorney.) Though Andrew Fleming’s comedy follows the usual inspirational instructor trajectory, ribald humor helps the medicine go down and Coogan gives his most unhinged performance since Tristram Shandy. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Hamlet 2 [Blu-ray] Reviews:
Hamlet II
2008-11-11 - I am a professional actor (stage, TV and film) and a substitute high school teacher. I am also a script writer and "script doctor." Physical comedy is my mainstay in theater. Just off the top of my head: Steve Coogan is a superb physical actor (his drunk on roller skates is unbeatable) He is well within range of Buster Keaton's world. The writing is smart, well-paced, knowledgable about teen-agers, and surprisingly free of salacious humor that usually begs for the lowest common denominator these days. (If all this sounds like too much praise for a film comedy, then you haven't seen enough trash onscreen!) Loved it. D. Harscheid

The Play's the Funny Thing
2008-10-28 - Hamlet 2 was either hailed as great comedy or despised by critics. The former group could probably see that this was satarizing a genre of film in the most unlikely way, while the former though it was becoming a genre film with a slightly offbeat sense of humor.

In the film, Steve Coogan plays a wannabe actor who's done infomercials, commercials, and appeared as an extra in Xena and found his way as a drama teacher who unsuccessfully adapts hollywood films into plays. He lives with his girlfriend played by Catherine Keener and a border played by David Arquette, who has a couple good bits, but really has little to do in this film.

When Coogan discovers he has a large class and that his class is set to close due to funding cuts, he decides to write the outrageous Hamlet 2. Here's where people get confused. On one hand, it appears that this film is taking the turn of every high school film where the teacher inspires his students to do great things through his relentless pursuit of a goal. But in reality, it's lampooning them but doing through chracterization, which is why the film's so much fun. But if you didn't get it, wait for the DVD and watch again.

And of course, while the film is funny, it's uneven until you get to the play itself. Yes there's funny bits with Elizabeth Shue and brief interplay with Keener, Arquette, and Coogan, but as the play takes shape, we know it will inevitably take center stage. For the finale alone, the film is worth a watch as it's some of the most hilarious things I've seen on film in years, even if is borderline offensive. That's the point, right? My only major gripe is why on earth did Coogan have to use an American accent. He's such a funny Brit.

A Sensible Comedy
2008-10-19 - "Hamlet 2"

A Sensible Comedy

Amos Lassen

The state of comedy in the movies lately has changed. It seems that gross out jokes and slapstick have taken over so it is really fun when an irreverent but intelligent comedy comes along. "Hamlet 2" is completely outrageous but it is tasteful in its irreverence. The movie is far from perfect and it is not the funniest movie I have ever seen but it is well done and Steve Coogan's performance is amazing.
When the budget of a high school drama department is threatened to be cut, Dana Marschz (Coogan) writes a play that he hopes will solve all financial problems. The play is a sequel to "Hamlet" and it is a politically incorrect musical theater spectacular.
Marschz is an utter failure as an actor and he has resorted to teaching high school. His students are totally inept at almost everything--they are a group of underachievers and were it not for his own enthusiasm there would never be a play.
A lot goes on in the movie but Coogan manages to keep everything in check and running, more or less, smoothly. "Hamlet 2" pokes great fun at other inspirational movie teachers. The satire of the movie hits on all of the sacred cows--actors, script-writers, closeted queers, teen movies like "Grease", alcoholics, hallucinogens, musicals, etc.
The sequel to "Hamlet" is a freaky trip based on free-association and is anti-dramatic and as things begin to fall apart, the film becomes funnier and funnier. The musical scenes are hysterical with great numbers like "Rape My Face" and "Rock Me Sexy Jesus". Elizabeth Shue and Christine Keeler turn in admirable performances and the members of the high school cast is made up of almost every stereotype and they put on quite a show.


Hamlet 2
2008-09-16 - Dana Marschz (Coogan) is a bad actor who has been relegated to teaching high school drama. There are two kids who want to be in his class, but the rest are there because they are "trouble" kids and the principal had to put them somewhere. Dana, however, wants to make a difference and challenge these kids. Previous plays that class performed were adaptations of movies, and garnered little accolades. Dana decides to write something original, and "Hamlet 2" is born. This musical sequel to Shakespeare's masterpiece soon raises the ire of the principal. After he attempts to shut it down, Dana and the class take the play off of school grounds, and soon the community is clamoring to see exactly what all the buzz is about.

"Hamlet 2" is an interesting idea that is only somewhat effective. I almost wish that there was more shown of the actual play, in which Hamlet goes back in time to become friends with Jesus. The play is never fully flushed out, and we are only treated to snippets, including the musical number, "Rock Me Sexy Jesus." (They actually give a good reason why this song is not blasphemy). Coogan is good and the talent-challenged Dana, the poor schlub with a good heart. The problem with the movie is its unevenness, alternating between really funny and not that funny at all. This is one to wait for on DVD.


Hilariously Loopy, Politically Incorrect Farce Boasts Enough Laughs to Overcome Its Uneven Structure
2008-09-09 - I kept flashing back to Christopher Guest's hilarious 1997 mockumentary, Waiting for Guffman, as I was watching this raucous 2008 comedy, and in this case, that turns out to be high praise. Directed and co-written in ramshackle fashion by Andrew Fleming (whose most prominent credits include the 2003 remake of The In-Laws and an episode of Arrested Development), this wacky concoction mixes broad slapstick, harmless raunch, and politically incorrect humor with a heavy, tongue-in-cheek dose of Dangerous Minds (referred to in the film) and every other cliché-driven movie about a schoolteacher who serves to inspire his students. The result is something of a mess when it comes to telling a coherent story, but it's also an infectious movie that had me laughing heartily during most of its 92-minute running time. It comes as no surprise that Fleming's writing partner is Pam Brady, who is most famous for producing and writing several episodes of South Park, as well as the 1999 movie version, South Park - Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The similarities are quite apparent.

The plot is predictably absurd and rather inspired. Manitoba-born Dana Marschz is a failed TV commercial actor who has ended up teaching drama in a Tucson high school. He has just finished directing a stage production of Erin Brockovich starring the only two students enthusiastic about his over-the-top, highly derivative approach to theater. Marschz is trying to earn the respect of the pre-adolescent critic of the school newspaper but to little effect. His wife Brie hates him and yet wants to have a child. At the same time, they are forced to take in a tight-lipped boarder named Gary to make ends meet. Things change dramatically on the first day of the new semester when Marschz inherits a classroom full of Latino students who could care less about drama. Told by the principal that drama would no longer be part of the school curriculum, Marschz decides to go out fighting and stage a long-gestating work-in-progress, a musical sequel to the Bard's most famous work entitled, of course, "Hamlet 2". What happens after that point is a freewheeling comedy of errors that gives Marschz's demented optimism the perfect vehicle.

Looking like Eric Idle's younger brother, Steve Coogan gives an audaciously funny performance as Marschz, a pitiable character in the most obvious ways but undeniably likeable. He flails somewhat during the more vulnerable moments probably because his performance is so otherwise manic and vainglorious. By comparison, Christopher Guest's Corky St. Clair in "Guffman" has moments of weakness, but his character resonated more simply because the humor came from a more serious state of self-doubt. However, Coogan is a superb physical comedian, especially on his ever-present roller skates. Back in hippie-chick mode from The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Catherine Keener is hilariously toxic as Brie, while Amy Poehler gets the funniest lines in her smallish role as ACLU lawyer Cricket Feldstein, an overly enthusiastic activist with a bigoted streak a mile wide.

Elisabeth Shue gets to play a parody of herself as washed up in Hollywood and forced into what she says is a more fulfilling career as a fertility clinic nurse. While she is charming as usual, Shue is not given nearly enough to do here. There are bright turns by Skylar Astin as the closeted Rand and Phoebe Strole as the unctuous Epiphany, both alumni of Broadway's Spring Awakening, as well as from Joseph Julian Soria as the brooding actor-wannabe Octavia. The normally hyperactive David Arquette plays strictly against type as near-silent Gary. The much ballyhooed production that provides the film's climax is not quite as outrageous as "Springtime for Hitler" in the original 1968 version of The Producers. However, it is funny enough despite the fact that "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" sounds like a familiar doo-wop song with wittier lyrics. I just wish Brady and Fleming spent a bit more time on consolidating the plot structure. Some of the story meanders without reason, and then it just stops without incident. Regardless, there is plenty of laugh-out-loud entertainment here for the undemanding viewer.