Highly Overrated But Still Good

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Get rid of any preconceived ideas about what a movie is supposed to be and enjoy the ride! Bright, innovative, irreverent, and totally unexpected, I thoroughly enjoyed the silliness, slapstick, and satire on various groups of society and the success of the emotionally almost broken. Fantastic premise and great cast, too.

Rating-6/10Hamlet 2 is a comedy from one of the people behind comedies such as Team America and South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut. Now it doesn't quite reach the heights that those two movies get to but nevertheless it doesn't fail to bring laughs and even just a little heart. Led by a strange casting choice, this small time kind of movie reminds me of a somewhat cult movie, that maybe in years to come or even already, is one.Now the strange casting choice is Steve Coogan who although is known for his comedy, just doesn't feel like a natural choice, but he does make his performance different. He really goes for the crazy, tries to hit the spot and kind of does, if only just scraping it. He makes the story fun, but the only things that hold this back from being any better is the writing, directing and even at times, Coogan. Now making a sequel to Hamlet in a comedy is a sure way to make it crude and hilarious, now although I didn't think this was hysterical, it has it's moments and is very crude. The writing can at times feel a little too lazy, it feels as if the writing team of Pam Brady and Andrew Fleming(also the director) fill in gaps with crude jokes where they can't think of anything good. Overall the movie plays a long nicely though and the directing is OK, to be fair the writing is too in most parts and I found the final scenes of the movie especially funny.A lot of credit has to go to the young cast who really give it a good go at playing teens who come together to make a play, now it may sound like a plot seen before and it is, but the emotion is pretty deep at times and certain actors know what there doing. I found the good mix of characters to play to this movies strengths, the supposed gang members mixed with the most drama loving students ever makes for good jokes and some good one two's at times.The movie is short, at 92 minutes this plays out nicely and doesn't overstep itself, that said it also can at times cram too much in and not explain but I'll overlook that in favour of the comedy. The little things are what makes this movie just about kind of OK(and I mean that, this is nearing just being average). The score is one thing that makes this good to watch, it isn't ever present but the odd bit of music here and there including some of the funny songs they sing make this movie come alive.Overall I have to repeat, this is near average and only escapes because of the humour and slight emotion which together create a kind of nice movie. Would I watch this again, well the answer is maybe, it is funny no doubt but for a second time this might not get the laughs it does first time around, so don't expect this to stick with you forever if you watch it. Last thing to say is about Coogan, he is hilarious at times and some of his other work is fantastic, now this won't go down in that list but he sure can be proud of making his character a different one, and not afraid to mix insane comedy with a little bit of pure drama.

My son is a college level theatre student. His sister and he have been in musical theatre for years, growing up.I am a theatre parent.So he and I went to this with high expectations. First showing, on a Saturday afternoon. Only he and I in the theatre. We made it to about half-way and left.We each feared the other was enjoying it; though I don't know why, as neither of us laughed once.Maybe I don't like Steve Coogan. I could have sworn, by his delivery and the dialogue, that he must have written and directed this film as a vehicle for his own glorification. Nothing was probable or representative of real theatre.There was no correlation of anything in this movie to its real life doppelganger. We had to look at his butt twice! God Almighty, please don't let this be the end of Elizabeth Schue.Roger Ebert gave this crap a favorable review but on re-reading his review, it seems to me he very skillfully and with, plausible deniability threw some friend a bone.

Dana Marschz is a failed actor and recovering alcoholic who's moved to Tucson to teach high school drama, where he's plagued by bad reviews, student indifference, budget woes, and his own teaching limitations.Because the other electives are closed, he finds himself with a large class of seeming gang-bangers, and the principal informs him that drama will be cut next trimester.On the advice of a student reviewer, Dana decides to stage his own play, a sequel to "Hamlet" in which the prince and Jesus, with the use of a time machine, try to save Gertrude and Ophelia.....Like all good British comedians, Coogan gets to headline an American comedy on his own merits, don't count around the world in 80 days, the film was about spectacle. And we get more or less the same result as we had before, mediocre film, mediocre returns.It's not Coogans fault, the material he is given is far below him, and it shows. The idea is sound and the actual 'Hamlet 2' is breathtakingly bizarre, it's just the rest of the film fails miserably with typecast college kids and throwing a couple of bizarre roles to slightly famous people doesn't make a movie funnier.Like other films where British comedians have took a Hollywood film on their own, True Identity, Drop Dead Fred, and Ghost Town, the idea is sound but the outcome is unfunny. Coogan appears like he isn't allowed to be Coogan, and explore more, Instead he falls over and puts on a ridiculous accent.Wanted to like it, but just didn't in the end.