Review of Hamlet 2 (2008) by Trevor C — 07 Feb 2010
A high concept comedy that is effectively an inspirational teacher clone with an anti-inspirational lead. Steve Coogan is brilliant as the teacher struggling to make his enthusiasm equal to that of talent. The pure idea of Hamlet 2 boggles the mind. Add in Einstein and a time machine and it is smile inducing.
It also has all the staples of the inspirational teacher and performance genres, given their own spin. The reviewer and critic of the performances in a young child. Triumph is helped along with theft and other nefarious activities. The disapproving parents happen to be literary wonders. The students end up inspiring the teacher. The racist girl falls for her bad-boy. The backstabber sees his wrongs in a peculiar way. Elizabeth Shue is both simultaneously inspired and forgotten about at the climax of the film.
For all its quirks and jollies the film managed to have an extremely wonderful payoff with the final performance. Sexy Jesus is endearing, and a Moonwalking Jesus even more so.
This is one of the great comedies of the last decade.
This review of Hamlet 2 (2008) was written by Trevor C on 07 Feb 2010.
Hamlet 2 has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
