“Hamlet 2” is a comedy about a failed actor who tries to make a science-fiction musical sequel to Shakespeare's tragedy in a Tucson, Arizona, high school. It arrives in theatres Friday and it stars Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz. He plays a teacher who eventually wins over his disobedient charges with his eccentric behavior. Thus, his rebellious students start being fond of him. Its official premiere was at this year’s Sundance festival.

The story seems to ignore the fact that the heroes from the original Hamlet story die in the end, their noble roots are also ignored, and thus we have a story with a time machine and Jesus Chist. The play also includes off-color musical production numbers as "Rock Me Sexy Jesus."

Among the cast members, one can find: Catherine Keener, David Arquette and Amy Poehler. Elizabeth Shue also makes an appearance as herself. In the movie, she retired from acting to work as a nurse in Tucson, the same town where Coogan's character teaches.

"Hamlet 2" is full of funny ideas from director Andrew Fleming but still Coogan’s performance can seem too exaggerated at times as if director Fleming didn’t know when to reel in his star’s improvisations or tighten them up in the editing.

Steve Coogan is best known for his starring roles in Michael Winterbottom’s movies “24 Hour Party People” and “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” as well as his work for directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Sofia Coppola and Don Roos. He is best known in hi native U.K. where he is a notorious and very well regarded comedian. His being a chat-show host, Alan Partridge, remains his signature role.