"Hamlet 2" Review - Written by TonyD

“Hamlet 2”
2008
***½ out of ****
Director: Andrew Fleming
Cast: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Elisabeth Shue


I think that out of all of the movies that I saw this year there were three comedies that stood out from all of the rest. The first was “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” a romantic-comedy that was finally a comedy that had romance and balanced them both out pretty well. The second one is the more obvious “Pineapple Express,” and according to everyone else, it was the stoner comedy that brought the stoner comedies back. And then there was “Tropic Thunder,” and between the blackface Robert Downey, Jr. and Tom Cruise’s sudden change in comedy, well, I don’t think that anything else really stood in the genre’s way.

And sadly, all of these other comedies got lost. Since the release of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” so many smaller comedy films were coming out that very little people heard about. There was “Harold and Kumar 2,” and it brought back the stoner comedy three and a half months BEFORE “Pineapple Express” did. Last week’s release of “The Rocker” was overlooked by the second week of “Tropic Thunder,” so much that theaters actually refuse to play “The Rocker” until late at night where there aren’t too many patrons… and the movie was pretty damn enjoyable. I didn’t see “The House Bunny” yet, but from what I hear about it from Kelsey’s review and all, it isn’t THAT bad and is actually pretty funny.

In the middle of all of the hype from “Pineapple Express” and “Tropic Thunder,” and the soon-to-come DVD release of “Sarah Marshall,” is the Sundance hit “Hamlet 2.” I’ve read a lot of the reviews from Sundance, and the majority of them said that “Hamlet 2” was one of the year’s best comedies, if not the best. And now I can be on the list that confirms it that “Hamlet 2” is the single best comedy of the year so far. Just because “Hamlet 2” doesn’t have star-power and goes a bit out of the way to try and offend the audience doesn’t mean that it isn’t watchable. It is some of the most fun that you will have at the theater this year.

Besides, if you don’t see “Hamlet 2” before it goes (which will probably be soon), you won’t be seeing a good comedy until Halloween night when Kevin Smith releases his almighty perfectness among us. (Before that you have the latest Michael Cera love-story and the new Dane Cook movie, and I’m sure you don’t want that… oh god I KNOW you don’t want that.)

Steve Coogan plays Dana Marschz, a has-been commercial actor that now works as a high-school drama coach. His past with his father has haunted him for his entire life. In his drama club, there are only two members, so he makes plays based off of movies (his most recent one being “Erin Brockovich”). Now that the school’s funding has shut down all other school activities, it means that more and more people are flocking to the drama club. And these just aren’t ordinary white people that have been in the club previously.

No, these are Latinos, Puerto-Ricans, thugs, and gang-bangers.

This means that there is now a risk of his club shutting down, so he decides that his next play has to be huge. He decides to make an original play, one that is somewhat personal, and completely ridiculous. You might have heard about it. Of course, it is the film’s title, but that is beside the point.

You’re probably asking me now, “Shucks, Tony, I thought everyone important from the original “Hamlet” was dead.” Surely, yes, but that is where you are in on the joke. With the time machine device, Dana brings back all of the characters from the tragic tale that you love, along with Jesus, cheerleaders, and Snoopy from “Peanuts.” Whereas the original tale of “Hamlet” was supposed to be tragic, this version of the tale turns tragedy around and makes it a comedy.

If you have heard of “Hamlet 2,” then you probably have heard their musical number “Rock Me, Sexy Jesus” that is accompanied with all of the trailers. While it might seem like that the song is just a marketing gimmick, the song plays a lot into the theme of the film. There is no certain theme to the film, and everyone will come up with their own interpretations to the song, but the one that I came up with was just how crazy some people can get. In the film, the people criticize the play for some sexual acts and how politically-incorrect the film is. The song is just another way to fuel the fire how uptight some people can be.

That’s okay, because I haven’t even said anything about their other musical number, “Raped in the Face.” Some things are better left unsaid.

Before “Hamlet 2” came out in theaters, most people had their fill of Steve Coogan in the equally funny “Tropic Thunder.” Even though that he stars in the film, not many people have gotten to know who Steve Coogan really is. “Hamlet 2” is the perfect way to get his name out. While playing Dana he brings a lot of charisma to the screen. Coogan has the perfect timing and can keep a straight face throughout the movie. You wouldn’t be surprised how much I have laughed at his facial expressions during this film. In one scene alone, he must have changed his face about six or seven times.

But the film isn’t all Coogan’s. The supporting cast does as much of a great job as you would think they do. Catherine Keener plays Dana’s alcoholic wife who is dying to have a kid. She isn’t given too much to do, but what she has she takes full advantage of. David Arquette plays their roomie who helps pay for the rent. He doesn’t say much either, but he is very comical when he does. Elisabeth Shue is a bit-part, and it is very nice to see her again on-screen. Amy Poehler definitely gets the best of the deal, though she doesn’t come into play until the second half. She plays a lawyer who feels like what the school-board is doing banning Dana’s play is wrong. Oh, and she is married to a Jewish man; she has nothing to lose.

“Hamlet 2” is a lot of fun, but there are a few problems. A subplot involved with a school-newspaper critic played by young Shea Pepe is never resolved, which is a shame because the critic character was definitely my favorite character out of the bunch. However, “Hamlet 2” is definitely the funniest movie of the summer, and has the most inspirational line of the summer:

“No matter where you go, it will always be better than Tuscon.”