“Hamlet 2” follows Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan), a failed actor who has spiraled downward from bit parts on television to commercials for herpes medication to teaching high school drama in Tucson, Ariz. His staged versions of movies like “Erin Brockovich” have failed miserably, and his drama class only has two students.
His class finally increases in size when a school from the local Latino community is forced to shut down and merge with Dana’s school, but his failed productions cause the school board to cut the drama program. Though Dana’s offbeat nature is initially off-putting, his students ultimately find him endearing and encourage him to put on a spectacular show to convince the school board to keep the drama program alive.
Dana decides it is finally time to produce a musical he has been working on for years: a sequel to “Hamlet.” His play explores what would happen if Hamlet could go back in time and prevent the deaths of his family and friends. A time machine transports Hamlet throughout history where he meets an eclectic mix of characters, including Jesus Christ, on his quest to save Denmark.
When a disgruntled student gives the script to the principal, the play is banned because of its obscene content. But with the help of his drama students, like stuck-up Epiphany Sellars (Phoebe Strole), sharp-tongued Ivonne (Melonie Diaz) and fast-talking Vitamin J (Arnie Pantoja), Dana works to make sure “Hamlet 2” gets the chance to grace the stage.
“Hamlet 2” is not perfectly crafted. The film starts out a bit slow, but its actors keep the comedy flowing consistently. Coogan, who recently had a small role in the superior R-rated laugh-fest “Tropic Thunder,” finally gets the chance to shine in a lead role. Independent film queen Catherine Keener is great as Dana’s alcoholic wife, and Amy Poehler is a scene-stealer as the foul-mouthed civil liberties lawyer who takes an interest in the play.
The film also features some promising young talent, from Strole and her former “Spring Awakening” co-star Skylar Astin to Diaz and relative newcomer Joseph Julian Soria. The standout of the film, though, is Elisabeth Shue in a hilarious cameo as herself, Dana’s favorite actress.
A bit of the script falls flat, but overall the dialogue is sharp and witty and the musical numbers are comical and catchy. Though song titles like “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” may be initially offensive to some, the play’s obscenity fades away as the meaning behind the story becomes clear. The play’s production at the end of the film is absolutely the most entertaining part.
“Hamlet 2” isn't perfect, but in the cinematic downtime between summer blockbusters and Oscar gold, the film is an entertaining ride with an original brand of humor. B
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