"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." (Hamlet 2 (DVD))

Member Name: dididave

Product:	Hamlet 2 (DVD)
Date:	19/09/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hilarious throughout, brilliant performances.

Disadvantages: It is crude and weird.

Dana Marschz is a failed, penniless and impotent actor. He teaches drama to unwilling students for gas money and has a rocky relationship at best with his alcoholic wife. A child critic ridicules his stage reproductions of popular films and with the drama course on the brink of closure Marschz has one last chance of success, a sequel to Shakespeare's "Hamlet" which of course will be called "Hamlet 2".

"Hamlet 2" really is a quite brilliant film. A gentle parody of kids come good films such as "Dead Poets Society" and "Dangerous Minds" it is filmed in a mockumentary style with Steve Coogan narrating and starring as the eccentric Marschz. Coogan is superb and drives the film from start to finish with an eccentric performance as good as anything he did as "Alan Partridge". He is simply hilarious as the downtrodden but never to be beaten Marschz and plays the kaftan wearing tutor with verve and boundless enthusiasm. Dana Marschz is an excellent character and provides huge entertainment value with his Yoda-like ramblings on modern film. Possibly one of the funniest things I have seen is him doing the crane from "The Karate Kid" in front of his students and the only effect to be them saying:

"He knows we can see his balls...right?"

Despite Coogan's performance being enough of a reason to watch this film on its own the acting throughout the cast is outstanding. Elisabeth Shue (the aforementioned "Karate Kid" and "Leaving Las Vegas") is game for a laugh playing herself as a disillusioned actress who prefers to work in a sperm clinic and Catherine Keener ("The 40 Year Old Virgin) is excellent as Marschz's alcoholic wife playing her role with vicious bitterness. In fact if it was not for the fact Coogan is immense in this, the women would steal the show although David Arquette also plays it for laughs as a dim lodger.

The mockumentary style owes a lot to "Spinal Tap" and gives a sense of realism which lasts until we get to the epic music which is both hilarious and memorable. I defy anyone not to be singing numbers such as "Rock me Sexy Jesus" after the film finishes and this feel good farce really ends on a high.

Set at a perfect pace with almost flawless performances, "Hamlet 2" is the antithesis to the "High School Musical" phenomenon. It has a sharp script and is coupled with sparkling performances from the entire cast. If you want to know what happens if Hamlet stepped into a time machine then this might be the film for you.

Summary: Just a brilliant film.