Media Maven: “Hamlet 2” Movie Review
“Hamlet 2”
Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Melonie Diaz, Natalie Amenula, Elisabbeth Shue, Amy Poehler and David Arquette
“Hamlet 2” is an off-the-wall comedy. It’s definitely not for everyone. Disclaimer: if you are a devout Christian stay far away from this movie. Nothing is sacred here and it spoofs any and all fundamental ideologies known to people living in the 21st century.
Having said that, this movie was distinctively funny. For so long we have been inundated with messages to be politically correct. At times, this social dictate serves only to homogenize the very uniqueness of Americans: speaking our minds without being chastised for offending anyone.
In short, this film is a story about a washed up actor who turns to teaching drama at a public high school in Arizona “where dreams go to die.” (Sorry about that Arizona — this is an example of the irreverence this film offers with a wink to everyone’s intelligence in knowing better.)
Steve Coogan is at the heart of this film playing the drama teacher Mr. Dana Marschz. His wife (Catherine Keener) is hounding him to go commando in order to increase his sperm count. His high school plays consistently get panned by a puny bodied student critic (Shea Pepe) who wields great power over the fate and self esteem of one Mr. Dana Marschz and his two devoted student thespians, Epiphany Sellars and Rand Posin (Phoebe Strole and Skylar Astin).
In every movie that has heart there is a motivating factor of the unyielding belief in the human spirit and the need for the underdog to succeed. This movie does not fail in portraying a sunken ship led by the Captain Dana Marschz and his crew of misguided stereotypical high school slackers whose only reason for being in the drama class in the first place is because all of the other “soft classes” were cancelled due to budget cuts.
This movie was outrageous in its depiction of a high school drama class’ united effort to stand by their beloved-cross-dressing-recovering-alcoholic-dearly-pathetic teacher when the drama department and freedom of artistic expression is threatened.
All of the ensemble characters serve to make this a memorable comedy. Most notably Joseph Julian Soria and Natalie Armerula as students supporting the misguided yet good hearted Mr. Dana Marschz are worthy of mention. As for Steven Coogan playing the irresistible Dana Marschz, it must be proclaimed that in him we have found a rara avis — and life and comedy are all the better for it!
Chic Stars: Four Chic Stars
Jan’s Movie Rating System:
5 – Top-notch entertainment
4 – Compelling, Heartwarming, Thrilling, Comical
3 – The a) story b) actors c) special effects saved/made this movie.
2 – If you are bored, watch it, or wait for DVD
1 – Don’t bother. Too morose, too violent, too blasè, an enigma.
