Release Date: August 22, 2008 (Limited) Studio: Focus Features MPAA Rating: R Genre: Comedy •
Drama Director: Andrew Fleming Writers: Andrew Fleming, Pam Brady Cast: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Melonie Diaz, Natalie Amenula, Marshall Bell, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler Synopsis: 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. The Review: Ya know, I never in my life expected to be writing a review for a movie titled Hamlet 2. No mind you that one of the tag lines is "Rock Me Sexy Jesus".
To be honest when I saw the first poster I thought it was some really strange High School Musical knock off..no joke. That is until the first trailer floored me with that giddy infectious aforementioned tune.
This movie is pretty far out there in some spots, but there are parts that just feel so unnatural and forced you realize it’s being squeezed a bit too much. So much so there are parts you can’t tell if they were aiming for funny or not.
The plot is just as basic as the trailer suggests, down on his luck lame actor turned drama teacher finds out his class is being cancelled so he’s got one chance to save the drama program. With some helpful hints from his pint sized nemesis/school paper drama critic he sets off to create his own original material….which of course is Hamlet The Deuce.
This is a guy who is pretty much as creatively bankrupt and empty without being an actual clone of Uwe Boll. Every production he as put on so far is just a stage version of a major motion picture and when it comes down to making something original it’s a sequel mixed with every movie he can squeeze into it…plus Jesus.
The plot moves along as it should ranging from slapstick to awkward humor and never gets dull and never really just soars. While that might sound like a slight I think it was the goal. I don’t think it was meant to be a flash in the pan comedy that will be so played out in a year or so and not so goofball you’d tire of it after the second dose. What’s amazing is that no matter how silly or unreal it gets I have no doubt that this guy could and probably does exist somewhere in the world.
Hamlet 2 is a tough sell and tough to really recommend or dismiss. To people who have a low brow sense of humor this movie isn’t going to play out well for you, for those who enjoy a slightly smarter brand of funny this will rock. Here’s a test: Look in your living room; do you have a TV on top of a broken TV functioning as an entertainment center? If so this movie isn’t for you.
While I’m having a hard time recommending the movie for everyone it was damn funny to me and I enjoyed the sacrilegious comedy (both as affronts to religion and Shakespeare) and just joyous silliness of it all. Chalk it up to this being a really good film that just wasn’t meant for mass consumption.
