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Hamlet 2

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Hamlet 2 (2008)

January. 21,2008
|
6.3
|
R
| Comedy Music
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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.

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Reviews

Voxitype
2008/01/21

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

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Sameer Callahan
2008/01/22

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

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Kien Navarro
2008/01/23

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

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Philippa
2008/01/24

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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willcundallreview
2008/01/25

Rating-6/10Hamlet 2 is a comedy from one of the people behind comedies such as Team America and South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut. Now it doesn't quite reach the heights that those two movies get to but nevertheless it doesn't fail to bring laughs and even just a little heart. Led by a strange casting choice, this small time kind of movie reminds me of a somewhat cult movie, that maybe in years to come or even already, is one.Now the strange casting choice is Steve Coogan who although is known for his comedy, just doesn't feel like a natural choice, but he does make his performance different. He really goes for the crazy, tries to hit the spot and kind of does, if only just scraping it. He makes the story fun, but the only things that hold this back from being any better is the writing, directing and even at times, Coogan. Now making a sequel to Hamlet in a comedy is a sure way to make it crude and hilarious, now although I didn't think this was hysterical, it has it's moments and is very crude. The writing can at times feel a little too lazy, it feels as if the writing team of Pam Brady and Andrew Fleming(also the director) fill in gaps with crude jokes where they can't think of anything good. Overall the movie plays a long nicely though and the directing is OK, to be fair the writing is too in most parts and I found the final scenes of the movie especially funny.A lot of credit has to go to the young cast who really give it a good go at playing teens who come together to make a play, now it may sound like a plot seen before and it is, but the emotion is pretty deep at times and certain actors know what there doing. I found the good mix of characters to play to this movies strengths, the supposed gang members mixed with the most drama loving students ever makes for good jokes and some good one two's at times.The movie is short, at 92 minutes this plays out nicely and doesn't overstep itself, that said it also can at times cram too much in and not explain but I'll overlook that in favour of the comedy. The little things are what makes this movie just about kind of OK(and I mean that, this is nearing just being average). The score is one thing that makes this good to watch, it isn't ever present but the odd bit of music here and there including some of the funny songs they sing make this movie come alive.Overall I have to repeat, this is near average and only escapes because of the humour and slight emotion which together create a kind of nice movie. Would I watch this again, well the answer is maybe, it is funny no doubt but for a second time this might not get the laughs it does first time around, so don't expect this to stick with you forever if you watch it. Last thing to say is about Coogan, he is hilarious at times and some of his other work is fantastic, now this won't go down in that list but he sure can be proud of making his character a different one, and not afraid to mix insane comedy with a little bit of pure drama.

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SnoopyStyle
2008/01/26

Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) is a failed actor and recovering alcoholic who is teaching high school drama in Tucson. He's plagued by bad reviews by a little kid, his class is being canceled next semester, most of his students aren't interested in drama, and his wife Brie (Catherine Keener) is trying to get pregnant. He's desperate to revive his class so he decides to blow everyone away with an original play Hamlet 2, an inappropriate sequel to the Shakespeare play.Steve Coogan is hilariously pathetic and clueless. Elisabeth Shue does a funny cameo as herself. There are some really sadly pathetic funny moments. You just can't stop laughing at Steve. Everything is played up to its wacky craziness. Almost everybody is way over the top especially Steve Coogan. This is his movie all the way thru. Although Hamlet 2 actually need to be crazier.

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rooprect
2008/01/27

This is not a review of the overall movie but instead a review of one (significant) part: Elisabeth Shue. Although she's just a secondary character in the film, I found myself riveted to her performance and laughing riotously at everything she did. She's now officially my favourite actress, and if you see this film there's a good chance she may become yours too.This is more than just random praise for one of the performers. Actually her character is very relevant to the story. HAMLET 2 is about a washed-up, mediocre actor (played by Coogan) who believes enthusiasm is more important than talent. With a ridiculously optimistic attitude despite a life of failure, he embarks on putting together the most ambitious play ever made: a sequel to Hamlet. The movie is full of madcap situations, and often it borders on utterly absurd. But this is where Shue's character comes in. Playing herself as a fellow "washed-up, mediocre actor" (which is hilarious considering how successful she is in real life), she plays the role with deadpan sobriety. She becomes the "straight man" which is the glue that holds this story together. Shue is the reference point without which the film would spiral into a silly romp.Movies where actors play themselves with hilarious results:BEING JOHN MALKOVICH with John MalkovichCOFFEE & CIGARETTES with Steve Coogan, Cate Blanchett, etcKING OF COMEDY with Jerry Lewis (aka Jerry "Langford")HAMLET 2 with Elisabeth ShueSee them all. You won't be disappointed!

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zetes
2008/01/28

While definitely flawed, I liked this film quite a bit. A high school drama teacher (Steve Coogan, yet again trying to break into the American market) writes his first-ever original play for his students after many failures at adapting popular Hollywood movies. Unfortunately, this play, a sequel to Hamlet in which Hamlet and Jesus travel through time, is a little bit offensive for high school. The principal tries shutting it down, but Coogan and his students are eager to go on with it, even garnering defense from the ACLU. The film's main problem is that the play itself, which makes up the climax of the movie, isn't as much fun as you expect from the previous descriptions. Much of the stuff that leads up to the play is quite wonderful, though. I think Coogan's character is very well written, a former alcoholic who wanted to be a famous actor but wasn't talented, who has ended up with a small, deteriorating high school program, who has a wife (Catherine Keener, great) who misses out on no opportunity to emasculate him. Coogan does an American accent, which at first annoyed me, but which I eventually figured out lent a lot to his wound-up character. The high school students are also very funny. Elisabeth Shue has a role as herself which should have been funnier than it is, but it's nice to see her again.

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