Coogan touts strong foundation in ‘Hamlet 2’
Some people might view the colorfully outrageous “Hamlet 2” as the National Lampoon version of “High School Musical.” Steve Coogan wouldn’t agree.
In the R-rated comedy, the 42-year-old British actor plays a failed actor who takes a job teaching high-school drama and then decides to write a politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare’s most famous play for his students to perform.
Sure, it’s a silly idea, especially when measured against the calculated feel-good structure of the “High School Musical” franchise, but according to Coogan, the passion his confused teacher has for the performing arts and his students provides the R-rated musical-comedy with a strong artistic foundation.
“What stops ‘Hamlet 2’ from being a goofball comedy is the seriousness of my character,” Coogan said from his Philadelphia hotel during a publicity stop for “Hamlet 2,” opening Aug. 22. “My character is at first seen as na?ve, stupid and a fool, but as the movie goes on, people warm to him because he’s not a cynical guy.
“He’s trying to at least believe in something. We live in a world where that (being positive) is not a fashionable thing anymore. He truly believes he’s trying to help those students (learn about the performing arts), and then, strangely and bizarrely, he does something that changes their lives.
“We sometimes poke fun at those movies about inspirational teachers, but that’s what this movie becomes; otherwise, it would just be a series of gags stitched together.”
Coogan brings a joyful energy to “Hamlet 2” and delivers a bouncy song, “Rock Me Sexy Jesus,” that viewers will either be happy to embrace or reject as totally inappropriate. It’s that kind of film, which suits Coogan just fine.
“I’ve always challenged the status quo,” he said. “My family members weren’t big flag wavers. We mistrusted those people (politicians and government leaders). We also mistrusted the Royal Family.
“I’m a bit subversive.”
Coogan is currently enjoying success in the Hollywood spoof “Tropic Thunder,” directed by Ben Stiller. He plays a driven director trying to capture the reality of war in the $90 million comedy and found the experience creatively rewarding and physically exhausting.
“It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with the guys (Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black), especially when you’re filming in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places in the world,” he said. “Having said that, I want to add that it was hot as hell there and there was a lot of sweating going on.”
Coogan previously worked with Stiller on “Night at the Museum,” which grossed an incredible $250.8 million in the United States and Canada, and is now filming “Night at the Museum 2” with him. Why does Coogan feel that the family picture was so successful?
“The movie is about American identity and American history,” he said. “‘Night at the Museum’ is a family movie that celebrates the heritage of this country.
“It united audiences, with liberal and conservative families being able to enjoy it equally. It also celebrates knowledge and promotes learning about stuff.
“The message of ‘Night at the Museum’ is that it’s smart to be smart.”