Hamlet 2

[barrybrooks8]

What a mess. It felt like I watched a movie where the editor had no idea what the movie was about and was told a goal for the movie's running time and he just chopped his way through the damn thing. The trailer had most of the gags (I think they should have left Elisabeth Shue out of the trailer and made that one a surprise) and even some of those were tired by the time I actually saw the context they were in. I would have rather seen the actual Hamlet 2, not this. Although, I will say I hope "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" makes it to the Best Song category, just to see it performed on stage (much like how I wondered how "Blame Canada" was going to be performed).

[Penelope]

Hamlet 2 has some laugh out loud moments, and all of those are due entirely to Steve Coogan's genuinely inspired performance; he plays this hapless, oblivious boob without any trace of irony or guile whatsoever. I can't imagine the movie without him--it simply wouldn't work--the script is a slapdash of throwing everything in for the sake of laugh, some of which don't work, and the last 2 minutes undercut the message (although that appears to be intentional, if you read the interview with director Andrew Fleming over at AfterElton; I thought it ruined the tone of the film).

[Penelope]

The advance reviews are, so far, mixed to negative, so I doubt it will have much of an impact.

[Zahveed]

What about original screenplay? Perhaps too raunchy?

[Penelope]

I doubt this raunchy satire from director/co-writer Andrew Fleming (Threesome, Dick, The Craft) and writer Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Team America: World Police) will register much with Oscar voters...except possibly Original Song--the movie has, as far as I know, 2 potential Original Songs: "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" and "As Gay As the Day is Long." You can hear them (warning, NSFW, and doesn't work on MAC) here.



Edited By Penelope on 1218117374