OliviaF

As a person who works in HR I could relate to the many themes in this film. You don't have to be pro-gay to like this film. If you are someone who loathes political correctness you will probably like it even more. I really enjoyed Daniel's performance as the straight, average, dull man who is assumed to be gay, only to find the pretence actually works in his favour. I love how he regained his courage and in the end, unleashed the "inner man." That line how he says "being gay taught me more about being a man than anything else" is a classic. Also when he puts in a sexual harassment complaint against his blonde, attractive supervisor, only to have the manager say to her "any other man in this office would love you to harass them." I love how this film plays around with the ideas of Political correctness in a very tongue of cheek way, without resorting to luridness or cheap humour.

This film reminded me a lot like a cross between Moulin Rouge! and Fiddler on the Roof with its spontaneous musical numbers and tranvestian parades. It was not as satisfying as Bend it Like Beckham which had a freshness to the story and everyday charm of ordinary people in suburban life. This film was flawed on several levels: - lead actress was impossibly pretty with her perfect blow dried hair and did nothing but roll her eyes all the way through the film. This was the most annoying thing! - lead male character with the name "Will Darcy". Far too contrived attempt at pointing out it is an adaption of "Pride and Prejudice". After Bridgette Jones' Mark Darcy (also based on P&P), how many other lead actors will we have with the name of "Darcy"? - bad dialogue. Again too contrived and added no depth to the characters. Felt like I was watching an extended episode of "Home and Away" with the way the lead characters were bickering, in a poor attempt that they hate each other but then fall in love.

The good things going for this film was Martin Henderson (a New Zealender by birth and ex-Home and Awayer) whose looks made up for his substandard acting talent in this film. Looked too cute in several Indian costumes including at the end when he is banging the drum. Also I do have to give him credit for his reaction to the Snake dance - that was really funny! If it weren't for him, this film would have been complete waste of my time.

I only liked two things about this film: 1) The performance by Kyle McLachlan as Claudius and 2) The play within the play.

But first, let me say from the outset that on the whole, this version of Hamlet was flat and uninspired. Ethan Hawke practically croaked his lines all the way through which rendered much of the poetic dialogue in the play as dull and meaningless. Secondly, the director tried so hard to be creative with the modern surroundings, and yet it did not gel in this movie. WHY in God's name would Hamlet and Laeters duel in a swordfight in a modern day setting? WHY would a country such as England execute two innocent citizens due to a message in a laptop? And why is it that in practically EVERY Hamlet movie I've seen, including this one, does Horatio just stand off to the side with a disinterested look on his face and not show shock and emotion when Hamlet is dying? Everyone just seems to stand around staring at the dying character.

Reciting "To be or not to be" in a blockbuster video shop completely misses the point. Sure, in this movie it was Hamlet's world of movies and violence, but it failed to really show what was going on in his mind. We rarely get to see his anger or his confusion or his sharp intellect which was the essence of Hamlet, instead we get this grunge brooding portrait ala Reality Bites type character.

Kudos should go to Kyle McLachlan for not falling into the trap of delivering his lines without meaning - he delivered every line flawlessly and made it sound so convincing in a modern setting. His version of Claudius as the charming yet smarmy businessman with devilish like intentions was probably the best version of Claudius I have seen for a long while.