You may have problems with “Hamlet 2,” it’s silly, it’s heavy on the irony, it’s pretty absurdist and we thought we wouldn’t like it (we were wrong), but c’mon with irreverant songs like “Rape Me In The Face” and “You’re as Gay as the Day is Long,” how can you not like this thing? You’ve probably already heard “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” as it’s been making the rounds and it should convince you more.
While we all were sleeping, the “Hamlet 2” Soundtrack came out on June 29 and mostly digital it seems, which is odd (not the digital part) because the movie doesn’t come out until August 22. Perhaps the studio folks want the music out early considering the hilarious ghey theater tunes in the film could easily begat their own cult following.
Haven’t heard what “Hamlet 2” is about? Sundance 2008’s biggest sale (it was bought for $10 million by Focus Features) stars Steve Coogan as a failed-actor turned inept drama teacher trying to motivate his disinterested “gang-banging” Latino students, who then develops a fawning and obsessive crush on the real Elisabeth Shue (as played by Elisabeth Shue in a kind of ‘Being John Malkovich’ style meta self-parody). But facing cutbacks, the school is forced to cancel drama and Coogan conceives of a politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet to rescue the program only to have the play tear the community apart and become a first amendment issue. Got that?
Catherine Keener plays Coogan’s aloof wife, Melonie Diaz marvels as a hispanic high school student, David Arquette inhabits the role of a mostly silent idiot and Amy Poehler, another person we didn’t care for much, amazes as a potty-mouthed, nutcase first amendment crusader.
The film was full of suprises for us. We thought the musical sequences in the film seemed corny and without context they kind of do, but man, this flick is a delicious treat of wrongness and super amusing idiots. Ralph Sall (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Nancy Drew”) composed most of the score and the songs in the film including a cover of Elton John’s “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” which is used to sublime effect in the film. We’re not the hugest fans of Steve Coogan to be honest (aside from the amazing “24 Hour Party People”), but damn if he’s not delightfully brilliant as the pathetic theater teacher. One things for sure, if you were ever a drama student, sang in high school musicals or even were aware of these floofy types growing up, you’re probably going to relish this hilarious send-up of musical theee-ater.
“Hamlet 2” Soundtrack
01. Rock Me Sexy Jesus – The Ralph Sall Experience
02. You’re as Gay as the Day is Long – The Ralph Sall Experience
03. Someone Saved My Life Tonight – The Ralph Sall Experience
04. Raped in the Face – Steve Coogan
05. Maniac -The Ralph Sall Experience
06. Curtain Falls – The Ralph Sall Experience
07. I See a World – All Too Much
08. Guitar Sweet! (Opening/Sperm Doctor/Erin B/Creative Process) – Ralph Sall
09. What It’s Like – Everlast
10. Sleep – Ralph Sall
11. Gone – All Too Much
12. Move Your Groove – Interstellar Force
13. The Look of Love (Part One) – ABC
Download: Phoebe Strole/Steve Coogan – “Raped In The Face”
Download: Elton John “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”