Hamlet 2 (2008) Movie Review

I didn’t think it was possible to find a film that is both improbable and yet at the same time predictable. Hamlet 2 is able to create just such a paradox. Despite its strong cast, irreverent writers, and a ridiculous concept, Hamlet 2 is unable to offend or amuse the audience for the majority of the film.

Hamlet 2 is about the down and out actor, Dana Marschz, who is the incarnation of the phrase: those who can’t, teach. Currently a high school drama teacher in Tucson, Arizona, Mr. Marschz is about to lose his job when the school district decides to cut all artistic activities. Marschz decides to write a musical so great that it will save the drama department. Thus Hamlet 2 is born. But, Marschz faces multiple obstacles in staging this sacrilegious work of “art”. Not only must he face the school district, but he also needs to try and save his rocky marriage while attempting to inspire his uninterested students.

Steve Coogan is the crazy center of the film as Dana Marschz. He puts in a fearless performance, full of exuberance and energy. But Mr. Coogan lacks an off button and his portrayal is constantly over the top with no respite. While Coogan’s role needs to be toned down, Catherine Keener and David Arquette’s roles need to either be cut completely or more fully fleshed out. Keener performs well as the ignored girlfriend of Coogan, but the character adds very little to the plot. As for Arquette’s portrayal of the monosyllabic roommate, both his performance and character are a waste of screen time.

Out of the cast of experienced actors, Elisabeth Shue is not only the most surprising, but also the most refreshing performer. She is as fearless as Coogan, willing to endure embarrassment by improvising multiple ways to point fun at herself. Shue portrays herself, as a forgotten actress of years gone by. Her character and interpretation is the only role in the film grounded in reality, but is still lovably hilarious.

As for the teenage cast, there are a few standouts. Melonie Diaz is one of the strongest up and coming actresses of my generation. The only problem with her performance is the lack of screen time. The director wasted much of the younger cast members’ talent, including Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole, straight from the Tony award winning Spring Awakening. They are completely underused until the third act where their musical background is brought into play. The young actors who are focused on lack any of the screen presence or star quality of their overshadowed counterparts.

What hurts the film most is its lack of irreverence. Hamlet 2 starts strong with a parody of a Herpes infomercial, but this brand of comedy is ignored until the actual musical in the 3rd act. Even then, the jokes are attempted but by no means executed. I never once felt offended and only laughed when Elisabeth Shue was on the screen. Screenwriter Pam Brady has experience with this brand of comedy from both South Park and Team America, but perhaps fell prey to fear. Brady’s experience is in animation, a genre where censors turn a blind eye. It is possible that director/writer Andrew Fleming and Ms. Brady were afraid to go for it with a live action movie that would be viewed critically by the MPAA.

As for the actual musical of Hamlet 2, you have to wait until almost the very end of the film to see it. Sure, there are glimpses of it throughout the movie, but the musical isn’t even mentioned till the second act and then you only receive minute glimpses of it. Hamlet 2’s trailer could be accused of false advertising, seeing as most of it focuses on the musical itself. The film has very little to do with the musical. It doesn’t even really matter that the musical is a sequel to Hamlet; it could have been a sequel to Macbeth or King Lear and not have changed the plot of the film. It is rather obvious that the script and film were shot without a clear idea of how the musical would be performed. That being said, it is the strongest moment of the movie. After thoroughly enjoying the musical, you can only wish that the rest of the movie could have lived up to it. If the film had ended there, you would leave the theatre howling with laughter. But the ending tagged on is cliché and out of place in a film that attempts to satirize “teacher” films.

I think what I dislike most about this film is all of the wasted potential within it. With a few more rewrites this could have been a great comedy. The director’s focus is in all of the wrong places and he and the writer weren’t as brave as their actors. Hamlet 2 may provide laughs, but squanders its opportunity to provide irony and satire. Save your money on its theatrical run and rent it on DVD.