Hamlet 2 (Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler) — When I saw Tropic Thunder and couldn’t recognize the guy playing the director of the mock film being shot, I couldn’t place him. In a wonderful extended cameo, the guy was British comedian Steve Coogan, the star of Hamlet 2. Coogan plays a failed actor, Dana Marschz (there’s a running gag about the pronunciation of the name), who loves the “craft” but who has to settle for teaching drama for “car money.” He’s really only got two over-hyped students, who star in his plays, all stage versions of popular movies like Erin Brockovich. It’s sad, pathetic … and funny.
On the other hand, Hamlet 2 is stupid, gross, and vulgar … and did I mention hysterical? Coogan is a physical comedian in the British Monty Python tradition. The ongoing sight gag here is his pathetic attempt to roller skate everywhere. He’s poor and lives with his wife, played by the exceptional Catherine Keener, and their dunce-of-a-boarder played by David Arquette (who seems to play this character a lot). They can’t get pregnant, which is an irrelevant side story that allows us to meet the nurse at the fertility clinic. The nurse looks familiar to the would-be actor. Isn’t that Elisabeth Shue? Sure is. She’s given up her acting career, having tired of the business, and become a nurse because she likes people. One of my favorites, this Academy-award nominated actress mocks herself and “the business” throughout. In deference to John Malkovich, this is not “Being Elisabeth Shue,” but it’s fun to watch Elisabeth Shue as Elisabeth Shue.
Marschz goes gaga and asks her to speak to his class, which has grown to include a group of inner-city, ethnic kids who got placed into the course because their temporary classroom was toxic. Of course, this story line has been done over and over … but not like this. There’s the talented, troubled one; the quiet one; the wise one, etc., but this is all mockery here, not serious tale.
The drama class is on its last legs due to budget cuts (catch the reference to Mr. Holland’s Opus) so Marschz tries to write and stage a “creative,” modern, vulgar, sacrilegious version of Hamlet with Jesus Christ (played by the teacher) as its star. Sure, there’s a movement to stop the play for its vulgarity and sacrilegious nature. That’s where the ACLU steps in, personified by a lawyer (Amy Poehler) who doesn’t care about the play, just the fight.
The rest is pure slapstick but with a soundtrack. When the play becomes a musical, highlighted by the song “Rock Me, Sexy Jesus,” the audience switches from loathing to adoration. The rest is yours to enjoy. Unlike those “reefer comedies” or grunge comedies, this one is clever and creative even amidst the grossness and physical humor. I recommend this to you if you want a good laugh or 10 and you don’t mind the dirty language and the stupidity.