8A - Friday, September 5, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Not as good as the first Despite solid comedic talent, "South Park"- inspired humor falls flat on its face By BLAKE GOBLE Daily Film Editor It takes a bit too long to figure it out, but about two-thirds through the song "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" - just a small part of the brash and bombastic finale in a film actually called "Hamlet 2" - you see this movie for what it really is: A goddamn "South Park" Hamlet 2 episode. Filled with Howard At the State Stern-like humor and Theatre, racial epithets, "Hamlet Quality16and 2" is a childish grab-bag. Showcase But that's not to say it's Focus Features awful. In fact, at times this could be argued as one of funnier and more cutting-edge comedies of this year. It's just that the whole thing is uneven and incomplete. Unlike high school Shake- speare, you probably won't appreciate. this after the fact. But for what it is, it's an amusingly sick way to kill an hour and a half. Dana Marschz (the indelible Steve Coogan, "Tropic Thunder") is a fledgling actor-turned-high-school-drama-teach- er in dire need of something to keep his curriculum alive. With his class of kiss- ass students and thugs-for-life, Marschz comes up with the idea to craft a sequel around one of the most cherished pieces of literature ever written. But ... didn't the protagonist die at the end of "Hamlet"? Taking that into account, it's not surprising that Marschz writes the play in just one night, or rather a hysterical, nudity-laced montage. Nor is it surprising that he uses a time machine as a plot device. Clearly, this.is the work of a madman. Sure enough, the play turns out to be an abomination, complete with a gay-men's choir score, allusions to "Grease" and Marschz playing J.C. himself. Only, this is a sexy Jesus. In true "South Park" fashion, each character has his own uproarious scene, and shocking moments are occasionally, if not accidentally, achieved. Still, there's a general sensation of pointlessness linger- ing throughout the film. Interesting too, as co-screenwriter Pam Brady worked on "South Park" and its cinematic off-shoot for a number of years. The jokes are meant to be fast and furious, yet they lack the speed of an "Airplane," or even the true shock of a "Borat." This is just a moderate- ly funny comedy that fails to move past its *I "Yeah, they're checking me out." initial, clever premise. It's as if the film- tle 13-year old bastard and it's hysterical. enough, but with no real purpose. Maybe makers were happy solely with the bold And when Marschz tries improv acting it'd be better to just watch the show. title. with his students, only to reveal his geni- At times absurd, and often disgusting or Yet, the film elicits laughs anyway. tals during a fake kick it's even funnier. mean, "Hamlet 2," leaves us nonetheless When a song featuring lyrics like "I was Yes, "Hamlet 2" certainly has a few crowd wanting more. Coogan's got the chops to raped in the face" plays, it's tough not pleasing jokes. lead a film like this, and he really owns a to crack a small, if not a little nervously. But still, this film feels flat. Like vir- lot of his jokes. It's flawed, but one things' When Marschz lashes out at a local critic tually every episode of "South Park," the for sure: It's certainly the most creative that berates his work, he cusses at the lit- story and jokes serve each other well sequel of the year. BRASS From Page 5 made as well as the lives of people who contributed to their making. "One of the things I wanted to emphasize in the exhibit is to give personality to the people who make these objects," Silverman said. Silverman, who has beentraveling to Ghana since the 1970s, has contributed photographs of his encounters with the brass casters of Krofrom and text describing the history of the Asante people of Ghana, who practice the tradition of lost-wax casting. Technology continues to play its role in this evolv- ing industry. With the use of medical syringes that form cleaner wax threads, air circulation fans from automo- biles thatgenerate heat in the furnace at a faster rate and impression molds that produce wax models, the num- ber and variety of objects are able to grow. However, even with these subtle innovations, brassworking still remains an intricate hand-made process. This is one exhibit where the difference between art and craft is difficult to distinguishbecause of the ambig- uous nature of brassworking. Many brass casters deem their work as simply a way of life. It is visitors of exhi- bitions like this one and perhaps scholars and anthro- pologists who may perceive each piece as containing an artistic element and as something capable of becoming an artifact. "When the objects are brought out of Africa, the sig- nificance changes," Silverman said. "Its about context, its about the values and meaning we ascribe to objects." Whether these objects are utilitarian or ornamental pieces, the fact that they are enclosed in a glass case makes it possible to render what we're viewing as art. One can only wonder how technology may someday alter the lost-wax casting process and whether the value local people assign these objects will ever reach the level of its perceived authenticity and importance abroad. The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports REC Intramural Sports Program REC www.recsports.umich.edu SOTS N"TRAMURALS INTRAMURALS 734-763-3562 ENTRIES DUE Monday Speme+ a -4p MBuilding COME EALY!(B3et times go in the first hour) Entry Fee: Manager's Meetin . $45 per team MANDATORY Tues, 9/9 6:00 PM or 9:00 PM IMSB Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Mon, 09/08 N 6:00 PM IMSB Entry Fee: I $100 per team Entry Fee: Manager's Meeting: $100 per team MANDATORY Wed, 9/9 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM IMSB 3ON-3BASKETBALL Entry Fee: Manager's Meeting: $45 per team MANDATORY Tues, 09/09 7:15 PM or 9:00 PM IMSB 0 "Casting Tradition: Contemporary Brassworking in Ghana" showcases brass artwork from Ghana. i ' .