Hamlet 2

Director: Andrew Fleming

Stars: Steve Coogan, Elisabeth Shue, Catherine Keener
Studio:

The Plot: High school drama teacher Dana Marschz (Coogan) looks to bring his Shakesperian sequel to the stage despite the obstacles in his path — namely, a classroom full of disinterested students, potential budget cuts, and his own lack of talent.

THE BUZZ: One of few buzz-generating films at Sundance earlier this year, H2 grabbed headlines for its pricey acquisition and warmly received reviews. Having seen the film, I can assert that it’s worth seeing as another example of Coogan’s ability to rise above any material he’s handed, but its by-the-numbers story arc and surprisingly unfunny songs (seeing that “South Park”‘s Pam Brady is the co-writer) certainly don’t add up to anything all that memorable. Coogan pushes the envelope; sadly, he’s mostly alone in the endeavor, except for a ballsy turn by Elisabeth Shue, playing an alternate-future version of herself. However, something tells us this could be a hit with the younger generation.

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