Dana Marschz sucks. At everything he does. He's a complete failure as an actor outside of some herpes commercials and film stand-in roles. He can't teach, except two over-achieving brown-nosers who show plenty of enthusiasm but next to no talent. And he's a miserable playwright, at least when it comes to adapting successful Hollywood films into stage versions for a high school cast of two. That is, until all the arts programs are shut down, providing him with a larger talent pool but also threatening his last stand as a theatre enthusiast. What's he got left to do? Make his staggering work of genius happen before the end of the semester and save the drama department, of course.
This may sound like your generic inspirational-teacher-saves-some-sort-of-cause type film, but it's far from it. Hamlet 2 ends up being everything you wanted and more.
Writer/Director Andrew Fleming (Nancy Drew, The Craft) has reached into his well of creativity and pulled this out with the aid of co-writer, Pam Brady (Team America, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut). It’s witty, it’s clever, and it’s potentially offensive. But, as opposed to most comedies churning out of the system these days, this one has a point. It’s almost a spoof/satire, but it teeters on that edge and walks this very careful line that equaled a very successful comedy.
Steve Coogan stars as Dana Marschz, and every time I see this guy in film I wonder why he isn’t a bigger star. Already a hit in his native England, Coogan has been slowly and steadily earning street cred in indie films like Coffee and Cigarettes, Tristram Shandy, Happy Endings, and 24-Hour Party People. Here Coogan gives himself completely over to the character and never shows fear in embarrassing himself or damaging his image. He owns it, and I think if the movie is a success it owes a great deal to the talents of Mr. Coogan. There’s seldom a scene without him, and rarely a scene he doesn’t have you burst out laughing with some little intricacy he has imbued into his character.
Catherine Keener seems to be enjoying every moment as Dana’s wife, Brie. She is so laid back and at the same time completely cruel to Dana, you can’t help but laugh. David Arquette turns in one of his most tolerable performances as the Marschz’s roommate/live-in mute. The rest of the cast is plenty solid with a host of relative new comers.
Where there have been big films coming out whose sole purpose was to make you laugh but failed, it’s truly an inspiring sight to see a film like Hamlet 2. Sure it’s here to make us laugh, but I’m sure it never planned on being one of the funniest films of the year.
Review by: Greg MacLennan
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