HAMLET 2 DVD REVIEW
Momentum Pictures / Region 2 / Released 7 September 2009
Review by Catherine Balavage
I have to admit I am a fan of Steve Coogan. Throw in the fact this film also has Catherine Keener in it and I had high expectations. I really was not disappointed. This film is a parody of High School films like Dangerous Minds and High School Musical.
Steve Coogan plays a failed actor turned drama teacher. After being told that the drama department is going to be shut down he decides to put on the best show ever and save drama. His decision on how to do this is to re-write Hamlet.
In a fabulous take on the racism of films like Dangerous minds, where the white teacher goes into the school and fixes everything, Hamlet 2 sees the Latino 'gangbangers' actually coming from good families and being the ones to fix their teacher.
Catherine Keener plays Coogans wife. It is a toss up between the two who has best lines. The rest of the cast are mostly unknowns except David Arquette and a cameo from Elisabeth Shue.
This film is socially astute, beautifully observed and side splitting funny. Throw in male nudity and the opportunity to sing along to classic song's like 'Rock me sexy Jesus' and 'I am so angry I feel like I have been raped in the face' make this a must see.
It was written by the writers of South Park. It's not for the faint hearted but it's their loss.
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