Hamlet 2

The term "Sundance Film Festival Favorite" has come to represent movies that just aren’t very good. So it with "Hamlet 2," which won accolades in Sundance as the next "Waiting For Guffman." It isn’t. Steve Coogan plays Dana Marschz a self-help-addicted high school drama teacher with the bright idea to write a musical sequel to Shakespeare’s "Hamlet." Abandoned by his witch of a wife (Catherine Keener) and locked out of the school premises after being fired, Dana persists with writing his tacky play that features songs like "Raped in the Face" and "Rock Me Sexy Jesus." For Coogan’s first role playing an American, "Hamlet 2" is especially disappointing considering the versatile actor’s evident talent expressed in his best film "24 Hour Party People" he which he gave a wicked portrayal of British television personality Tony Wilson. There is a certain amount of masochistic joy to be had in seeing Coogan completely commit to drivel, but the pleasure is purely a guilty one.

Rated R, 92 mins. (C) (Two Stars)