'Hamlet 2' wacky, but worth it

By: Stephen Ortiz

Posted: 9/3/08

The end of this summer has produced two satirical, totally non-politically correct comedies - the all star packed war movie "Tropic Thunder" and the small budget, Sundance Film Festival favorite "Hamlet 2" - and if you only have the time or money to see one, make sure it's the latter. Don't get me wrong, "Tropic Thunder" is a great movie, but "Hamlet 2" strikes a bit closer to home and it's all thanks to a brilliant performance by Steve Coogan.

Coogan plays Dana Marschz, an ex-actor from L.A. who was stuck doing ads for herpes medications and minute television roles. Marschz is trying to find success teaching drama to kids in Tucson, Ariz., "where dreams go to die." His adaptations of Hollywood films to plays are received poorly by the hilarious school theater critic (Shea Pepe) whom he desperately tries to impress and in turn receives very thoughtful commentary.

The downhill trend continues as Marschz's drama class is invaded by two dozen Latin students who don't care much for Marschz or drama, and the program itself is threatened to be cut due to its lackluster productions and a tightening budget. Marschz, desperate to stay afloat, digs deep into his creative well and comes out with an original production - "Hamlet 2."

Coogan is a delight from start to finish. The British comedian/actor (who was also a pleasure as Octavius in "Night At The Museum") never misses a step as he confronts the failures of his own professional career and his problems with his father when he was a child, and refuses to lay down and die when just about everything that can go wrong does.

Instead of being a character in an inspirational teacher film, Coogan is able to deliver a character that thinks that he's actually living one of those films. In one scene, he comes into class and attempts to reenact one of the scenes from "Dangerous Minds" and fails miserably. Oh, and his role as Jesus with a "swimmer's bod" during the actual production of "Hamlet 2" is just genius.

The supporting cast, made mostly up by Elizabeth Shue and young no-name actors, does a fine job complimenting Coogan's wackiness - a wackiness that is only upstaged slightly by Amy Poehler's role as Cricket Feldstein, a lawyer for freedom of speech cases that she knows she'll win. While her screen time is brief, it is always funny and racy.

All in all, it is charm and dumb wit that make "Hamlet 2" as great as it is. The story is certainly out there and at times a bit predictable, but all of that is quickly forgotten because of the hilarious dialogue and sharp humor. That, and the heart and courage the characters possess to do something they truly believe in.