Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Elisabeth Shue, David Arquette, Amy Poehler
Rating 6 out of 10
Steve Coogan appears to be omnipresent in 2008: a sell-out national tour in the UK resurrecting his much-loved comic creations, the lead in a new BBC drama (Sunshine), a substantial role in one of Hollywood's big summer comedies (Tropic Thunder) and now his first bona fide leading role in an American feature.Hamlet 2 was rapturously received at this year's Sundance Festival, where it reportedly sold for $10m. But away from the snowy peaks of Utah it becomes clear that this is a hit and miss affair - a one joke central concept that doesn't have a huge amount to back it up.
Coogan is Dana Marschz, a failed actor turned drama teacher plying his trade to reluctant high school students in the middle of Arizona. His wife (Catherine Keener) is unenthusiastic about their marriage and things get even worse for Dana when his school board announces the closure of his beloved drama program.
Dana comes up with an audacious plan to save his skin: to write a musical sequel to the most famous play of all time in which Jesus takes on some of the Dane's qualities, offends just about every minority going and performs a song and dance number called Rock Me Sexy Jesus. He manages to persuade his reluctant charges at school that this is a good idea and even enlists the help of one Elizabeth Shue, who has retired from Hollywood to become a dental nurse in his town.
Some of this is very funny but equally there are vast chunks of the film that fail to raise a titter. Coogan shows just why he is a very good comic actor but only an average dramatic one, and while the central concept is funny enough, it's debatable as to whether it is substantial enough to sustain a full-length feature.
Paul Hurley
