Stereotypically, what does one do when he or she can’t actually do anything worthy of a job? Teach! This stereotype is brought to life in Hamlet 2 when a dead-beat actor named Dana Marschz (played by Steve Coogan) decides to stop reaching for roles in show business and teaches high school drama classes. As a bad actor, he is also a bad drama teacher. The plot thickens when Dana becomes infatuated with the school nurse, Elisabeth Shue, who was also an actress. The remainder of the movie surrounds Dana’s poor teaching skills and constant lust for the school nurse.

Hamlet 2 was indeed a comedic adventure; however, most of the fun was poked at cheap shots and junior high school humor. The fact that the movie was considered a comedy is, in itself, a joke simply because the only funny parts of the movie were spoiled by the previews and trailers aired on television. The word for the humor in Hamlet 2 was nothing more than “dry.” Hamlet 2 was full of bad jokes and events that should have been funny but weren’t. Viewers in theatres considered the movie to be funny, but hardly worth the wait.

Along with dry humor and junior high school-like plotlines, Hamlet 2 was also heavily based on crude ideals. The director, Andrew Fleming, pokes fun at all teen stereotypes while also creating a joke out of the drama teacher, Dana. Most of the movie was based on clichés at high school such as homosexuals and drug users. Because it was also heavily based on sexuality, drug use, crude humor, and a little nudity, the movie ended offensively, leaving viewers both dissatisfied and depressed. The movie was named the top “feel-bad movie” of the summer.

Putting aside the dirty details of the movie, Hamlet 2 was doomed from the beginning due to the director’s choice of actors. Bad acting doomed Hamlet 2 (whether or not it was offensive). Coogan, shameless in his role, still fails to create a believable character. Director Fleming made the mistake of casting an entirely amateur cast for Hamlet 2 which left an eventful yet stale chain of events.

Through bad humor, offensive situations, and amateur acting, it came out as one of the worst movies of the summer. Hamlet 2 was split between those who absolutely hated it and those who loved it. Although given an “R” rating, the movie fell short of the expectations of both the viewers and the critics.