For many
people the very idea of a sequel to Hamlet is preposterous.
But if Shakespeare
fans want to see a good tragedy, they should check out the last act of Hamlet
2.
A truly funny slapstick film for the first hour, the tragedy of Hamlet
2 is
that it turns away from its comedic prowess in favor of an ending with
an
inspirational message–the same dramatic device that the film is
parodying.
Dana
Marschz (Steve Coogan) goes by the motto, "acting is life."
Unfortunately, his acting and his life are pitiful. A failed Hollywood
actor, Marschz
has settled down with his wife Brie (Catherine Keener) in Tuscon, Arizona,
where he teaches drama at a high school for next to nothing. His
desires to
save the school’s pathetic drama program, and his career, rest in the
hands of
reluctant students whose participation is due to cancellation of other
school
activities.
Like the
inspirational movies that Marschz has been attempting to bring to the
school’s
stage, he tries to make lemonade out of lemons. He decides to write an
original
play for his students to perform in hopes of raising the six thousand
dollars
necessary to save the program. When word gets out that the play is a
sequel to Hamlet
with questionable content relating to sexuality and religion, the
school principal
shuts down the production. In spite of his obvious ineptitude,
Marschz’s
dedication has inspired his students to go to great lengths to put on
the play
amidst public outcry.
The driving
force behind Hamlet 2 is Coogan’s masterful performance as
Marschz. He lampoons
the "keep your head held high" mindset of the drama teacher
perfectly. His commitment to the character is akin to Will Ferrell’s as
Ron
Burgundy in Anchorman. The one-liners and sight gags that he
brings to the
screen spawned numerous laugh-out-loud moments.
While Hamlet
2 does a great job of parodying the schmaltzy inspirational teacher
story line
found in movies like Mr. Holland’s Opus and Dangerous Minds,
the film abandons its
irreverent satire in favor of an inspirational ending. Marschz’s
downfall and
inspired resurrection is a drastic departure from the rest of the
film’s
tongue-in-cheek humor.
The parody worked extremely well for the first two-thirds of the film,
but left
no room for the character development necessary for an audience to care
if the
students are inspired by their teacher. By the time Marschz hits bottom
and the
students rally around their teacher, all the audience cares about is
the punch
line…and they are left hanging.
A bizarre, over-the-top ending, ala Ron Burgundy giving up his chance
at a
comeback to leap into the grizzly bear pit at the San Diego Zoo and save Veronica Corningstone, would
have better
suited the movie’s satirical strength.
In
Marschz’s pivotal moment of clarity he realizes that he has truly
inspired his
students and declares that his life is a "parody of a tragedy." The
tragedy of Hamlet 2 is that the film didn’t stick to the parody.