REVIEW: Hamlet 2
There is an old saying: Those that can, do. And those that can’t, teach.
Such is the guiding truth in the life of Dana Marshz (Steve Coogan), a high school drama teacher in Tuscon, Arizona. When Dana learns that his drama class is going to be cancelled due to budget cuts, he suffers a psychotic break that leads him to create his ‘masterpiece,’ a sequel to Shakespear’s ‘Hamlet’ complete with a time machine, group therapy, light sabers, wirework, and a song entitled ‘Rock Me Sexy Jesus.’
‘Hamlet 2’ is a funny, clever, and extremely entertaining film that takes the traditional ‘inspirational teacher movie’ formula and turns it on its head. In most of those films, a teacher gives a group of hopeless students a new way of seeing life by virtue of unorthodox teaching techniques that eventually inspire the students to make something of themselves at the great debate/big dance competition/essay contest.
‘Hamlet 2’ follows that formula, but with a great twist. In this case, the teacher is completely without talent in any way shape, or form.
One of the major ironies of the movie is that Coogan does a great job of portraying a talentless actor (intentionally). It seems that his role in the recent ‘Tropic Thunder’ as talentless director Damien Cockburn was a great way of gearing up for his leading role here. In both roles, Coogan brings forth an Ed Wood-like infectious enthusiasm that seems to be able to convince even the most resistant of his students to appear in his play.
That enthusiasm is one of the best things about ‘Hamlet 2.’ Anyone who has ever found themselves pursuing a dream or a huge project without the necessary skills can identify with the beleaguered teacher as he faces mounting obstacles, including his own lack of talent, irate parents incensed at the amount of sex and violence in the play, and a principal that will stop at nothing to shut down the production.
It’s this ability to identify with the main character that makes the movie work, and if it wasn’t for Coogan’s ability to portray the starry-eyed idealist that can’t see his own flaws, ‘Hamlet 2’ would melt into a pointless morass of mindless boredom.
Also notable are the appearances by Catherine Keener as Dana’s wife, David Arquette as their renter/houseguest, and Elizabeth Shue as… well… Elizabeth Shue. Even though they all have relatively small roles, they manage to bring the same kind of boundless energy that Coogan exhibits as Dana.
If there is one complaint that I can make about ‘Hamlet 2’ it’s the fact that some of the scenes felt like they could have done with some trimming. Comedy is at least partially about spontaneity, and although all the scenes are funny, some of them felt like they were floating in a thick stew of unnecessary dialogue and smaller comedic jabs that could have just as easily been left on the cutting room floor.
‘Hamlet 2’ is probably the best movie that you’ve never heard of this summer, and passing it up would be a real tragedy.
Final Grade- B+
