With a small role in Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" and a leading part in the independent comedy "Hamlet 2," British comedian Steve Coogan is becoming a multiplex fixture. He recently discussed his work, particularly his role in "Hamlet 2," a hit at this year's Sundance Film Festival that opened in Honolulu on Friday.

In the film, Coogan plays high-school drama teacher Dana Marschz, a failed actor who spends his days with mostly indifferent students in Tucson, Ariz. The Shakespearean title comes from a controversial, original play that the inept Marschz produces despite complaints from his school board and religious groups.

Q. When viewers see the title "Hamlet 2," they have no idea what they're getting into. Before you read the script, did you know what it was about?

A. No I didn't. Before I read the script, it put me off. In fact, one of my missions in doing this publicity is to convince people, "Look, it's not 'Hamlet.' It's not Shakespeare. It's a ballsy, funny kind of comedy. It's got broad gags in it." ... When I first saw the title, I thought, "Oh my God. This sounds like it's going to be terrible." I think if the movie works, it's going to work because of word of mouth, because the people who see it really seem to like it.

Q. When you saw the completed film, did you have any expectation it would be as popular as it was at Sundance?

A. No. I saw it and I thought, "This is good. This is a good movie, and it's certainly different." (Dana's) not somebody who everyone can identify with. ... But the one thing I think people can identify with is he's a guy who's trying to make a difference. He's trying to help these kids. He's just trying to do the right thing, however much of a jerk he is sometimes.

Q. You say Dana Marschz is a different and odd character, which he is. How do you approach a character like that?

A. It's so odd, you can't do it in half measures. You have to really run at it. When I do it, I kind of give him a physicality that makes him different. ... He's very kind of effusive and emotional and neurotic, and that means you're physical. ... You can wave your arms around, and there's a lot of stuff like that that helps you to render the character and make him real.

Q. In a way, you parody the inspirational teacher flicks like "Mr. Holland's Opus."

A. No one had done a spoof of those kinds of things. There's that element to it, and that was what was fun about it. There's this guy who comes along and keeps telling the kids he's going to inspire them, and they just think he's a jerk. But the irony is, of course, we have a laugh at all those movies and make fun of them, but in the end the movie is an inspirational teacher movie.