Hamlet 2
Hamlet 2 | |
---|---|
Directed by | director |
Written by | writer |
Produced by | producer |
Starring | |
Narrated by | narrator |
Cinematography | Alexander Gruszynski |
Edited by | Jeff Freeman |
Music by | Ralph Sall Steve Brown |
Production companies | L+E Pictures Bona Fide Productions ContentFilm International |
Distributed by | distributor |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 92 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $9 million[2] |
Box office | $4.9 million[2] |
Hamlet 2 is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Andrew Fleming, written by Fleming and Pam Brady, and starring Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, and David Arquette. It was produced by Eric Eisner, Leonid Rozhetskin, and Aaron Ryder. Hamlet 2 was filmed primarily at a New Mexico high school from September to October 2007. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Focus Features.
Plot
Dana Marschz is a recovering
Dana is floored when Principal Rocker notifies him that the drama program is to be shut down at the end of the term. Seeking to inspire his students, Dana undertakes to write and produce an original play: a sequel to
Dana is further traumatized when his wife Brie leaves him for the uninteresting, but fertile, boarder Gary they had taken into their home to supplement their modest income, and reveals that he himself is infertile. Despondent, Dana falls off the wagon and tries to abandon the project, but his students encourage him to continue, arranging an abandoned warehouse and rave spot, technical assistance, and security being provided by the high school's football and wrestling teams. Dana also learns that the cancellation of the play has become a
The play itself initially meets with a mixed reception, due to its controversial content and mangling of the original play; in keeping with a running joke throughout the movie, much of the content revolves around the characters using time travel to mend their troubled relationships with their fathers; it ends with both Hamlet and Jesus forgiving their fathers for the wrongs done to them. Although initially reluctant to engage with the play, with several protesters infiltrating the audience to stage a direct protest, the play gradually wins the audience over. Dana and his favorite actress, Elisabeth Shue – whom he is now dating – meet Dana's students to prepare for the show's Broadway opening, complete with original cast.
Cast
- Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz
- Catherine Keener as Brie Marschz
- Amy Poehler as Cricket Feldstein
- David Arquette as Gary
- Elisabeth Shue as herself
- Marshall Bell as Principal Rocker
- Skylar Astin as Rand Posin
- Phoebe Strole as Epiphany Sellars
- Melonie Diaz as Ivonne
- Joseph Julian Soria as Octavio Marquez
- Arnie Pantoja as Vitamin J
- Nat Faxon as Glenn from Copy Shop
- Natalie Amenula as Yolanda
- Michael Esparza as Chuy
- Shea Pepe as Noah Sapperstein
- Arlin Alcala as Protestant
Production
The play shown within the film was written on deadline for production.[3] The film was budgeted at a little over $9 million.[4] Production began in September 2007 in New Mexico.[5]
Filming took place mainly at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque, where actual students were permitted to perform as extras in the film.[6] Filming concluded on October 31, 2007.[7] The film was executive produced by Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, who also produced Little Miss Sunshine.[4]
Release
A rough edit of Hamlet 2 was prepared for the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it was a late addition, three days prior to its scheduled screening.[4] The film premiered at the festival on January 21, 2008. After the screening, an all-night bidding war took place for worldwide distribution rights, Focus Features won for $10 million, beating out other studios such as Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Lionsgate and Warner Independent Pictures.[8] The purchase of Hamlet 2 nearly met the Sundance record set by Little Miss Sunshine, which sold for $10.5 million in 2006.[4] In wide release, the film grossed roughly half of the rights cost.
The film had a
Home media
The DVD was released December 21, 2008. The DVD includes deleted scenes, an audio commentary, and a sing-along.
The film was also released as part of a four movie, "teen-comedy" collection from Universal in 2011.
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 62%, based on 145 reviews, with the site's critical consensus reading, "The script's biting premise and Steve Coogan's endearing, off-the-handle performance make Hamlet 2 a hysterical -- if slightly painful -- ride."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 54 out of 100, based on reviews from 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10]
Duane Byrge of
References
- ^ "HAMLET 2 (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ a b "Hamlet 2 (2008) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- ^ a b David M. Halbfinger (2008-01-23). "Done Deals Finally Start To Appear At Sundance". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d Lauren A.E. Schuker (2008-01-23). "Comic 'Hamlet 2' Finally Gets Sales Going at Sundance". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Francesca Martin (2007-09-12). "Great Danes go head to head". The Guardian.
- ^ Megan Martin (2007-11-06). "Students learn about making movies from an on-the-set perspective". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ Dan Mayfield (2008-01-11). "N.M. movies make Sundance cut". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ Anne Thompson (2008-01-22). "Focus Features acquires 'Hamlet 2'". Variety. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
- ^ "Hamlet 2 (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Hamlet 2". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ Roger Ebert (August 21, 2008). "Hamlet and Jesus return in rockin' musical sequel". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Duane Byrge (2008-01-23). ""Hamlet 2" sends up suburbia in rowdy fashion". The Hollywood Reporter. Reuters. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
External links
- Official website
- Hamlet 2 at IMDb
- Hamlet 2 at Box Office Mojo