Movie Review: Hamlet 2
“Hamlet 2″ is a strange and funny film. There is possibly offensive material depending on your sense of humor, including Jesus jokes and nudity for the sake of a joke. One of the writers of the movie wrote for “South Park” so you get the drift. If you like off the wall clever humor you will like this movie. For those of you involved in theater you will laugh at the in jokes of the theater teacher who teaches because he can’t make it on the stage. Steve Coogan plays drama teacher Dana Marschz the hero of the movie and he is downright hilarious. There is enough reality in his performance that as far to the edge as it goes he is believable and downright likeable. Katherine Keener ably plays his mean spirited wife in an unlikeable role. The rest of the cast are the students he teaches drama to, with a stand out performance by Skylar Astin. The students are cast in the drama teachers “sequel” to Hamlet…yes, that Hamlet. Let’s just say its a musical, parodies a few well known musicals and could certainly be taken the wrong way. The musical numbers are great with catchy tunes. The subject and music are so wrong (and funny), think of “Springtime for Hitler” from “The Producers”. Suffice it to say you’ll see Hamlet and Jesus on stage together. ‘Nuff said.
The entire cast is engaging and theater geeks should get a good laugh from it. The film is well directed, has great pacing, is funny, strange and so odd its, well, likeable. If you are into off the wall humor this is one to add to your DVD list.
2008. Directed by Andrew Fleming. Starring Steve Coogan, Katherine Keener, Skylar Astin and David Arquette.
Rating: 
