Smile Politely. Speak Directly. Champaign-Urbana's Alternative Daily

Hamlet 2, director Andrew Fleming's hilariously quirky and unpredictable film stars Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz — a failed actor who decides to try his luck as a high school drama teacher, "where dreams go to die," in Tucson, Ariz. His drama department consists of only two students, who put on dismal adaptations of Hollywood hits such as Erin Brockovich that are largely ignored. He is harassed by everyone from a lisping ninth grader who writes scathing reviews of his plays in the school newspaper, a tyrannical principal who sees no value in the arts, and his wife, Brie (Catherine Keener) who is more than a little bitter about their low income and Dana's low sperm count.