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Hamlet 2 (2008)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 141
Fresh: 88 | Rotten: 53

The script's biting premise and Steve Coogan's endearing, off-the-handle performance make Hamlet 2 an hysterical -- if slightly painful -- ride.

Average Rating: 5.9/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 15

The script's biting premise and Steve Coogan's endearing, off-the-handle performance make Hamlet 2 an hysterical -- if slightly painful -- ride.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 16,662

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Movie Info

Steve Coogan stars in the comedy Hamlet 2, which follows a drama teacher who tries to put together a production of "Hamlet 2" to rescue his high-school theater department. Catherine Keener co-stars in the Andrew Fleming-helmed production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Andrew Fleming

Written By: Andrew Fleming, Pam Brady

In Theaters: Aug 22, 2008 Wide

On DVD: Dec 21, 2008

Box Office:$4.8M

Focus Features

Hamlet 2 Trailer & Photos

More Photos (21)

Cast

Steve Coogan
Dana Marschz
Catherine Keener
Brie Marschz
David Arquette
Gary
Marshall Bell
Principal Rocker
Melonie Diaz
Ivonne
Joseph Julian Soria
Octavio
Skylar Astin
Rand Posin
Phoebe Strole
Epiphany Sellers
Michael Esparza
Chuy
Arnie Pantoja
Vitamin J
Natalie Amenula
Yolanda
Nat Faxon
Glenn From Copy Shop
Shea Pepe
Noah Sapperstein
Elisabeth Shue
Herself
Amy Poehler
Cricket Feldstein
Marco Rodriguez
Mr. Marquez
Deborah Chavez
Mrs. Marquez
Kevin Wiggins
Policeman #1
Johnnie Hector
Policeman #2
Steve Corona
Horace
Aaron Shriver
Virgil
Josh Berry
Mr. Mann
Margarita Wilder
Julia de la Huerta
Evan Adrian
Danny the Waiter
J.D. Garfield
Man With Envelope
Mary Sue Evans
Parent #1
Tomas Sanchez
Parent #2
Mike Hatfield
Man In Truck
John Hardman
Old Dude
Stephen Eiland
Scary Gang Banger
Cynthia Strauss
Hysterical Woman
Will Gluck
Man at Play #1
Tom Romero
Man at Play #2
Jenny Gabrielle
Prayer Girl
Frank Bond
Ron From the Times
Todd Anderson
Redneck Parent
Daniel Quinines
Giggles

Critic Reviews for Hamlet 2

All Critics (141) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (90) | Rotten (53) | DVD (3)

For anyone who ever took drama in High School, Coogan's character will surely ignite memories of quirky, even downright crazy teachers you may have encountered over the years.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Top Critic

The funniest Shakespearean sequel since Richard IV.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

Top Critic

A high school musical that would make John Waters proud.

August 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly

| Comment

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

[A] dazzling little comedy.

August 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Philip Kennicott

Washington Post

Top Critic

Not since Death of a Salesman has failure been quite so entertaining.

August 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal

| Comment

Joanne Kaufman

Wall Street Journal

Top Critic

It has an edge and degree of sophistication not seen in most summer comedies.

August 22, 2008 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Ruthe Stein

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

High school theater spoof lacks some spark.

December 30, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

Some of it doesn't work at all, but much of it is both sharply astute and hysterically funny

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall

| Comment

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

I haven't laughed so hard in years. Coogan is pure brilliance...

May 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed

| Comment

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Moments of demented inspiration as the ridiculously catchy ditty 'Rock Me Sexy Jesus' are few and far between.

February 12, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Can a frustrated actor pen a Hamlet sequel reviving dead characters via a time machine with Jesus, Einstein and Hillary Clinton? If this daring, irreverent social satire has its say, those lunatic possibilities may prove just that.

December 29, 2008 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze

| Comment

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

That sound you hear is Shakespeare spinning in his grave after watching Hamlet 2 from the Great Beyond.

December 23, 2008 Full Review Source: What Would Toto Watch?

| Comment

Christian Toto

What Would Toto Watch?

Buoyed by Steve Coogan's unapologetically go-for-broke performance...

November 25, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Coogan is a master at playing jerks, but Dana is too silly, too stupid, and too unappealing to enlist us on his side.

November 12, 2008 Comment

Andy Klein

Los Angeles CityBeat Source: Los Angeles CityBeat

i pio anatreptiki komodia poy ehei ksepidisei ap' to aneksartito kykloma ta teleytaia hronia

November 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses

| Comment

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

Oddly, what's supposed to be a great comedy about a bad play is in fact a bad comedy about a play that looks pretty frigging amazing

September 12, 2008 Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly

| Comment

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

The play's the thing in Hamlet 2.

September 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Illinois Times

| Comment

Charles Koplinski

Illinois Times

While they may be trying to "save drama," (the $6,000 a year Tucson High School luxury) they are also lovingly destroying it.

September 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinerina

| Comment

Karina Montgomery

Cinerina

Brady and Fleming, who co-wrote the script, build to a feverish finale, 15 minutes of pure transgressive laughter when Hamlet 2 is finally performed.

September 5, 2008 Comment

Sean Means

Salt Lake Tribune

I laughed enough while I watched it, but as I write this review, I realize how shabby it really is. And Marschz is annoying.

September 5, 2008 Full Review Source: The Cinema Source

| Comment

Michael Dance

The Cinema Source Source: The Cinema Source

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Hamlet 2

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I went into this expecting a huge pile of crap... I was delightfully wrong. This film is outrageous enought to be funny and not too crude to be overly offensive. Steve Coogan plays a great part that I enjoyed. The wimp teacher turned bool guy. The young actors in this are really good as well.

May 12, 2012

Joshua Wilburn

Super Reviewer

A failed-actor-turned-drama-teacher attempts to save his high school's drama program by putting on an original work called Hamlet 2.This film is goofy as shit. There's no other way to describe Steve Coogan's performance or the premise as a whole. The film constantly puts Coogan's character up for ridicule, and Coogan

March 18, 2011

Jim Hunter

Super Reviewer

Hamlet 2 Quotes

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1. Dana Marschz: I feel like I've been raped. In the face!
– Submitted by Damion B (7 months ago)

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