DVD
REVIEW: HAMLET 2
12/19/08
One high school drama teacher is
about to make a huge number 2 in this irreverent, dementedly
hilarious comedy from the co-writer of South Park – Bigger,
Longer, Uncut and Team America: World Police. Featuring a
musical theater extravaganza that is politically incorrect,
to say the least, this uproarious, scathingly funny comedy
delivers the laughs over and over again.
SYNOPSIS: Hamlet 2 is an irreverent comedy centering
on one teacher’s overzealous quest to mount a high
schoolmusical. The film is directed by Andrew Fleming (Dick,
Threesome) from an original screenplay he wrote with Pam
Brady (South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut, Team America:
World Police); the stars are Steve Coogan (Night at the
Museum), Catherine Keener (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), David
Arquette (the Scream movies), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night
Live), and Academy Award® nominee Elisabeth Shue as herself.
Mr. Coogan portrays Dana Marschz;
the last name is pronounced…oh, any attempt is close enough,
really. Dana is a failed actor-turned-high school drama
teacher. Short-changed in the talent department, Dana still
harbors ambitions and passions. At work, that is; his
personal life, with his dissatisfied wife Brie (Ms. Keener)
and their boarder Gary (Mr. Arquette), leaves much to be
desired. At Tucson, AZ’s West Mesa High School, Dana sees
himself as an inspirational teacher. But his adaptations of
popular films, as performed by his top students Rand and
Epiphany (Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole, both stars of
Broadway’s Spring Awakening), are not resonating. When his
latest – re-creating Erin Brockovich – is dismissed by the
9th grade drama critic and his department is targeted for
closure,Dana must reach deep into himself for creativity.
After much perspiration, he
conceives a sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet – a
musical-theater extravaganza that will disdain both
political correctness and dramatic credibility. Rallying and
rousing his class, Dana casts a wider net by recruiting
transfer students like Ivonne (Melonie Diaz of Be Kind
Rewind) for key roles. With rehearsals underway, objections
from school officials and the community are soon raised, but
Dana will not be denied his freedom of artistic expression.
After all, “to thine own self be true.” Dana gets unexpected
support from ACLU attorney Cricket Feldstein (Ms. Poehler)
and his favorite actress, Elisabeth Shue. Above all else, he
fervently believes that his opus must be staged, and nothing
can break his optimistic spirit.
VIDEO:
Anamorphic (1.85:1) Widescreen
AUDIO:
Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround - English Francais
Subtitles - English, Spanish,
Francais
BONUS FEATURES:
Deleted Scenes:
One deleted scene definately a must watch (3:20)
Making Number 2:
This featurette is divided in 2 parts. the first part
is called "Duty Calls" and "Part Deux"
Duty Calls: A candid and comic look at the making of
the film using interviews with the cast and crew including
Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Albert
Einstein, Jesus and many more. (10:00)
PART DEUX:
Cast and crew chime in with anecdotes from the set. (5:36)
Oscar® Winner VS.
High School Drama Class: We put the Academy
Award®-winning performance by Julia Roberts side by side
with Mr. Marschz's class performance of 'Erin Brockovich'
and let you decide who's got the chops. (1:03)
Sing Along With
Hamlet 2: Sing Along for 2 songs "Raped in the Face"
and "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"
Audio Commentary With
Director/Co=-Writer Andrew Fleming and Co-Writer Pam Brady
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