There is nothing either good or bad, except for Hamlet 2, which is fucking amazing

I'll go more into depth when the DVD is out and I can more easily provide concrete examples of its greatness (I find telling about intentional comedy virtually impossible; I'd rather just show it). But for now I'm just going to put it out there: Hamlet 2 directly speaks to the segment of the population that idealizes ridiculousness, theatricality and high-concept garbage (a blessed trinity if ever there were). This thing of hilarity is too dead-on to avoid building a cult (even if it takes a few years), and it is worth checking out if you have even the remotest of a craving for Kool-Aid. It's a reference-obsessed Waiting for Guffman. It's The Comeback on an infinitely more pathetic scale (yes, it's possible). It's a film in which the phrase "raped in the face" is uttered only to become the inspiration of a musical number. It's, above all things, cuckoo bananas.

Most hilariously, it's a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Hamlet 2, the play within the movie, irreverently toys with the idea of Jesus Christ as a contemporary rock star, much to the disdain of the conservative citizens of Tucson. They are much like those on the Hamlet 2 IMDb board who are sad and seemingly outraged that the movie would portray this at all. Never mind that the film is satire that doesn't endorse its central character's conviction in commenting on Jesus' celebrity in a fucking sequel to Hamlet, but mocks it by merely exposing it. That it exists is all that's needed to explain its ridiculousness. "I do want you to think about this; why was it a religious figure of the Catholic denomination and not a Muslim figure? Why do you think this is?" goes a post by goodguy309. I know the answer and so does Hamlet 2: because watching people miss the point is a brilliant source of entertainment.

Steve Coogan is a revelation. Elisabeth Shue has a mind-blowing sense of humor about herself. I just can't say enough good stuff about this movie. But perhaps what I'm most appreciative of is that it alerted me to the existence of Joseph Julian Soria.

This kid is so beautiful, watching him on screen made me uncomfortable. Like just-pubescent-what-are-these-feelings-in-my-loins uncomfortable. Swoon. Swoooooooon. I expect global takeover. Go raid his MySpace before he makes it private.

Comments

[Agnes]

Re: Joseph Julian Soria- yes, please!

[Liv]

I am so excited to see this movie. I'm jealous you've already had the pleasure! I have to wait like two weeks.

[savaro]

I'm convinced Steve Coogan is pretty much the funniest man alive. I can't wait to see this.

[sarah]

everything ive heard about this flick so far has been along the same lines of positive. your entry is the final straw-- im pretty sure i need to see this.

[steve z]

I am going to have to go see this movie, if just to see Joseph... He's a hottie and he reminds me of you Rich!

[seeldee]

Wow - high praise indeed. The reviews I've read have been inconsistent but you've convinced me that I must go see this movie.

Oh, and the Rudy shirt design wins, paws down.

[K'na]

Rich, this guy looks just like you!

[Laurie]

IMDb: Always great as a constant source of stupidity.

[pete]

thanks for the movie tip, and you're SO right about JJS--smokin'!

[Maria]

Damn. He's sexy.

[Joanna]

Glad someone else likes it as much as we did. Flashback to my high school drama teacher who WAS talented but also insane.

[Lucky]

This is one of the best movies in years...I'm just afraid that people won't get it.

[Miss Lisa]

It's gotten such mixed reviews, yet it sounds hilarious to me. Thank you for the recommendation. High school drama, insane drama teacher, Steve Coogan--a recipe for excellence.

[Laura]

I'm so excited about seeing this movie, and seeing that you were also excited about it makes me even more excited. Also, did I mention that my husband recently finished his Hamlet webcomic? www.stickfigurehamlet.com

[Amy]

Don't listen to the negative reviews. It's somewhat uneven in parts, but this was the funniest sweetest movie I've ever seen. I laughed so hard I cried and I had a stupid smile on my face the rest of the day.

[Marti]

I am so frakking jazzed to see this movie I can't even describe it.

[doug]

Yeah, but have you guys seen "Jesus is My Friend" by "Sonseed"?

http://dougsploitation.blogspot.com/

[Sparker]

I just saw this last night and it was awesome- if only in part because I was a serious drama nerd in high school and I knew actual people like the ones in the movie.

[Karen]

So SO excited to see this. It's Waiting For Guffman, meets Life of Brian, meets Spinal Tap, meets The Comeback, meets Porkies 2, meet Arrested Development? SIGN ME UP!

I just HATE that they are selling at as The Next Neapolitan Dynamite. Seriously? That's the best you can do? One is a over the top satire and the other is, quite frankly, "quirky" (I hate quirky.) I wish something could just stand on it's own. But I guess they had to do something as it was not "from the guys that brought you..."

[Jamie]

As Cricket Feldstein says in the movie, "those bible thumpers can suck a bag of dicks".

[seeldee]

Ok, so my partner and I saw Hamlet 2 this afternoon and I'm here to say that Rich only speaks the truth; the movie is among the best comedies I've ever seen. Catherine Keener and Amy Poehler steal every scene they're in. Elizabeth Shue is just perfect and the kid who plays the theatre critic is brilliantly cast. This is the movie that Strangers With Candy wanted to be but never came close to.

The songs are sooooo good - make sure to stay until after ABC's Look of Love finishes because the best original song in the movie is played over the credits. Makes me wonder what scene that song was supposed to be used in...

Oh, and the cat in Hamlet 2 looks just like Charles Nelson Reilly.

Can't wait for ANTM11 posts!

[Fredo]

The kid looks like you.

[angela]

I loved this movie and I can't wait for your recap, you do it the best.

[melissajune]

This movie was amazingly funny. I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in a long time.

[Ricky]

I have to disagree. I thought this movie was off-note in every way. I don't think a single one of Steve Coogan's jokes landed, and Catherine Keener's character was awful and unlikable (actually, all of the characters were unlikable in this movie). Also, why was David Arquette in this movie? He must be hard-up for work to accept a role where he has literally three lines.

I think the idea behind this movie is good; if the writing had lived up to the promise, I could have enjoyed it. Instead, I left the theater feeling like my time had been wasted and someone had raped me...in the eyes.