'Hamlet 2'
3 out of 4 Stars
Dana Marschz, in the simplest of terms, is a loser.
Once an actor for commercials, he now teaches drama at a high school in Tucson, Ariz., where his current class consists of two overly enthusiastic students. Every trimester, he directs a play starring the two students, and it is usually based on a Hollywood movie.
All of his plays are poorly received by a rather small audience and ruthlessly trashed by a young critic for the school newspaper. Without a car, he uses in-line skates as a means of transportation.
Worst of all, Marschz soon finds out that the drama program is about to be terminated. As the audience looks at this poor man, dressed in a brown suit, falling down on his skates, drowning in misery, we pity him.
This is why, when Dana Marschz creates a stage sequel to Shakespeare's "Hamlet", we can't help but root for him and his attempt to finally make a name for himself, no matter how politically incorrect and offensive his play may be.
Steve Coogan, an actor usually in the supporting light, makes good on his first lead performance. His portrayal of the drama teacher is flawlessly effective, much to the support of his sad eyes hidden behind a fake smile. The first few acts of the film mainly consist of his pain and anguish.
He lives with his life-loathing wife (Catherine Keener) and a boarder (David Arquette), people who only add to his ever-growing stress.
He comes to class one day to find a room full of Latino students who were kicked out of their electives and sent to drama due to an asbestos breakout. He sees this as an opportunity to form his own inspirational teacher legacy; he refers to Robin Williams in "Dead Poet's Society" on more than one occasion.
But then the dilemma of the drama program's demise comes into play, and Marschz knows he must create a stage masterpiece in order to save the program from being cut. Cue the satirical and irreverent creation of "Hamlet 2", a musical sequel to one of Shakespeare's greatest achievements.
The only problem with a sequel to this particular play is that by the end of the original, most of the main characters are killed. No worries, because Marschz opens the play with a time machine that brings back Hamlet, Polonius, Gertrude, and also features appearances from Jesus Christ, Satan, Albert Einstein and Hillary Clinton.
Of course, a play of such controversy is bound to cause an uproar. The principal kicks Marschz off school grounds, newspaper articles are published, lawsuits are served and a hilarious Amy Poehler comes into play as Cricket Feldstein, a lawyer dead set on defending Marschz's First Amendment rights.
Marschz also encounters his acting idol, Elisabeth Shue (who plays herself), best known for roles in films like "Leaving Las Vegas" and "The Karate Kid".
"Hamlet 2" is a situational comedy that doesn't force its laughs on its audience. Most of the film builds up to an absolutely rip-roaring and hilarious finale, which includes the toe-tapping and side-splitting musical number "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" (soon to be at the top of my iTunes playlist).
At times this build-up seems slow and somewhat disappointing, but by the end of "Hamlet 2", I came to realize what it was all for.
The audience needs to connect with Dana Marschz. We need to feel his pain before we can witness his play. We need to understand the relationship he had with his father and how he uses that as motivation for his play.
If one were to view "Hamlet 2" just as the final play alone, the viewer would not be able to catch all of Dana's personal references and what he is trying to represent through his work. One would view the play as just an offensive piece of trash, when really it is anything but.
For example, "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" shows how Jesus, if he were to live during these times, would have to market himself as a celebrity to get his points across. It's satire, but it also means something.
But most of the credit should go to Coogan, who knows how to play a thespian but is also able to make him somewhat of a neurotic schmuck.
We feel for Dana Marschz, both in glee and in pity. And that is why, when the curtains close on "Hamlet 2", we are silently and sincerely applauding inside.
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Greg Vellante is a teen writer for the Sunday Eagle-Tribune.
