Hamlet 2

2008 future cult classic

Rating: 13/20

Plot: Dana Marschz, a failed commercial actor turned high school drama teacher, sees enrollment for his class increase from two enthusiastic students to a multicultural mix of troublesome, apathetic students. Inspired by Mr. Holland's Opus, Dead Poet's Society, and other feel-good movies involving teachers reaching unreachable students, he decides to change their lives. Making matters more difficult are problems at home and a school budget committee that is threatening to do away with his position entirely. The solution? Penning and producing a politically-incorrect sequel to Hamlet.

Steve Coogan hefts this baby on his shoulders and carries it from beginning to end. I think he's absolutely brilliant here, managing at times to take something that really shouldn't work at all and making it near hilarious with just the right facial expression, physical comedy, or line delivery. I also liked Elizabeth Shue in a self-deprecating role, and I've always sort of had a crush on Catherine Keener even though her role in this is arguably completely unnecessarily. The humor here is as irreverent as it gets. Nothing--Jesus, race relations, motivational "teacher" movies, education--is sacred enough not to be sent to the slaughterhouse. Extraneous sub-plots get in the way, and not every single line works. At times, it feels that the writers are trying a bit too hard. Still, this is one of those deals where there is so much stuffed into the ninety minutes, that you never have to wait very long for something you're going to like. I'd see it again, and I'd probably laugh again, likely at different things that made me laugh the first time. Except for when Steve Coogan's character is up late working on his play and yells at his cat. That is something I'll laugh at every time.