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Goofball comedy starring Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz, a failed actor turned high school drama teacher who attempts to salvage the school's under-achieving, under-funded drama programme by staging one of his own works, a musical sequel to Shakespeare's tragedy 'Hamlet'. Hilarity ensues as Marschz does everything he can to impress the school magazine's drama critic, who made no bones about his contempt for Marschz's previous production - a school play adaptation of 'Erin Brokovich'.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Hamlet 2" is a film split between heading in two directions.
The best sections are where Steve Coogan (putting aside his questionable American accent) plays a failed actor in the middle of a nervous breakdown, with endless issues and immature reactions to problems leading to some great farce. It's a comedy about censorship, controversy and freedom of speech, but most importantly in parts it's really funny. If "Team America World Police" and "Jerry Springer The Opera" are things you like, put this on your list.
Then on the other hand it also tries too hard to be a 'feelgood' movie. It panders a little too much to its potential critics (ironic given what the story's supposed to be about) and stops short of causing any real offence the way something like a South Park movie does. It's an angry satire with its nails clipped. There are just a few too many slapstick pratfalls and not quite enough gags.
That said it's worth spending 80 minutes on just for some of the performances. Steve Coogan as always does a great job. Amy Poehler has a star turn as the letigious lawyer constantly looking to sue everyone and Catherine Keener is a great comedy alcoholic.
Not perfect, a little too soft in parts, but pretty funny.
The best sections are where Steve Coogan (putting aside his questionable American accent) plays a failed actor in the middle of a nervous breakdown, with endless issues and immature reactions to problems leading to some great farce. It's a comedy about censorship, controversy and freedom of speech, but most importantly in parts it's really funny. If "Team America World Police" and "Jerry Springer The Opera" are things you like, put this on your list.
Then on the other hand it also tries too hard to be a 'feelgood' movie. It panders a little too much to its potential critics (ironic given what the story's supposed to be about) and stops short of causing any real offence the way something like a South Park movie does. It's an angry satire with its nails clipped. There are just a few too many slapstick pratfalls and not quite enough gags.
That said it's worth spending 80 minutes on just for some of the performances. Steve Coogan as always does a great job. Amy Poehler has a star turn as the letigious lawyer constantly looking to sue everyone and Catherine Keener is a great comedy alcoholic.
Not perfect, a little too soft in parts, but pretty funny.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
The idea is a fair one but this first Steve Coogan headlining Hollywood vehicle is almost mis-titled. It should be more like 'Dopey high-school drama teacher attempts to put on a school play', but that's not as snappy and certainly wouldn't have the literates and lovers of the Bard double-checking it.
It's not actually THAT bad but as we know Coogan in his more successful and endearing characters, obviously we're going to compare. His accent is uncomfortably thick, if sounding authentic and he just comes across as that worse, embarrassingly nerdy teacher that we all used to love to hate. That was most probably the intention, though but that doesn't really help.
Actually, his scenes with wife/partner Katherine Keener almost work best, with their fertility "problems". The kids in school are often not that believable, reacting differently to what's expected. There's almost a parody on films by the likes of Alan Parker, the ones where a mixed ethnic high school has its drama budget completely removed and then it's 'Let's put on a Musical!!'
There's some funnier comedy when recovering alcoholic Dana Marschz (Coogan) falls off the wagon and goes amok. But his constant pratfalls get wearisome and when that extends to vocal ones, those are painful.
Finally, the play goes ahead and this bit comes across quite well, with Coogan as Christ on a rope and this raises my score from 2 to 2.4, but I'm afraid I cannot extend to three.
Hamlet, whether 2 or 52, it never is. Take it as it actually is and it stands a better chance.
It's not actually THAT bad but as we know Coogan in his more successful and endearing characters, obviously we're going to compare. His accent is uncomfortably thick, if sounding authentic and he just comes across as that worse, embarrassingly nerdy teacher that we all used to love to hate. That was most probably the intention, though but that doesn't really help.
Actually, his scenes with wife/partner Katherine Keener almost work best, with their fertility "problems". The kids in school are often not that believable, reacting differently to what's expected. There's almost a parody on films by the likes of Alan Parker, the ones where a mixed ethnic high school has its drama budget completely removed and then it's 'Let's put on a Musical!!'
There's some funnier comedy when recovering alcoholic Dana Marschz (Coogan) falls off the wagon and goes amok. But his constant pratfalls get wearisome and when that extends to vocal ones, those are painful.
Finally, the play goes ahead and this bit comes across quite well, with Coogan as Christ on a rope and this raises my score from 2 to 2.4, but I'm afraid I cannot extend to three.
Hamlet, whether 2 or 52, it never is. Take it as it actually is and it stands a better chance.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By home
Format:DVD
I love shakespeare's Hamlet. Tongue in cheek and a pinch of salt are needed to appreciate the comic value of this film but once you get there is is a true joy and pleasure for when life gets too serious. Steve Coogan does do a terrible accent but its funny. The film is ridiculous and absurd but so are the "teacher saves the latino/black/poor/ignorant pupils" that this film is sending up in the first place. The students in this film save the teacher.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Generally good
It's arrived in good condition and working fine but the only thing that I can find wrong was it took slightly longer than I would have hoped, but apart from that it was good.
Published 21 months ago by Product reviewer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Totally funny!
A hilarious little gem and a fine performance by Coogan. It is a shame it didn't get the attention it deserved.
Published 23 months ago by R. S. Van Spall
1.0 out of 5 stars
An insult to Hamlet
Very very poor show indeed. I only purchased this because it stars the hugely talented Steve Coogan, but I am surprised that he actually associated himself with this drivel. Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2011 by Michelle Harvey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hamlet 2
Good film, a bit slow to start off but Coogan, in a different role from what he has played, brings this film to life by the halfway mark. Funny and quite a cult film
Published on 28 Nov 2010 by Che1482
1.0 out of 5 stars
:/ hmm steve.
This is probably the first movie i've disliked all year.. was it steve coogans awful american accent? was it the awful script? was it the dire exicution of the entire film? Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2010 by Joshua Wragg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliance
Absolute dynamite! Drama/Comedy at it's best should rightly be put with Napoleon Dynamite as another excellantly and weirdly funny comedy which will have you quoting it for days... Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by Mr. Samuel G. Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUCH a good film!!!
...seriously.
This film totally passed me by - it didn't even register on my radar. But I've just finished watching it, literally about 2 minutes ago, and I enjoyed it... Read more
This film totally passed me by - it didn't even register on my radar. But I've just finished watching it, literally about 2 minutes ago, and I enjoyed it... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by G. Horn
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Rock me sexy Jesus"
Steve Coogan plays a failed (and strange) actor who is teaching drama in a Tuscon high school. The class is about to get pulled, his married life is far from happy and most of his... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2009 by godzilla78
5.0 out of 5 stars
An endearing, really funny comedy
This is one of those really good movies that go largely unnoticed every year. If you watch this and don't end up with a big grinning smile on your face, there's something seriously... Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2009 by A.B.C.
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