Steve Coogan Gets His British Foot in U.S. Door
Britain's Coogan has hit U.S. shores with "Tropic Thunder" and "Hamlet 2."
Aug. 31, 2008— -- To be or not to be famous in America? That is the question for Steve Coogan.
In his native land, the British funnyman is as revered as Jerry Seinfeld was in his TV heyday.
His status is mostly the result of his monstrous comic invention, the small-of-brain, massive-of-ego talk-show host Alan Partridge, whose incompetence is outdone only by his insensitive gaffes. "My worst nightmare of what I might be" is how the actor refers to him. Born as a mock radio broadcaster in 1992, his unctuous creation went on to spawn two TV series, "Knowing Me, Knowing You … With Alan Partridge" (1994) and "I'm Alan Partridge" (1997, 2002), plus videos and specials.
Over here, however, Coogan is best known, if known at all, as the tiny Roman emperor who feuds with Owen Wilson's cowpoke in 2006's "Night at the Museum," which starred Ben Stiller. "Years ago, I was a toy soldier come to life in 'The Indian in the Cupboard,'" Coogan recalls. "Yes, I only play small people."
Not anymore. His stateside profile is on the rise thanks to two R-rated comedies. In "Tropic Thunder," Coogan, 42, makes a brief yet colorful appearance as Damien, a frantic director of an out-of-control war epic.
Stiller, who directed and stars in "Thunder," insisted that he take the part. "Ben and I are pretty good buddies, along with Owen," says Coogan, who obviously is an ace networker. "They invited me into their comedy fraternity."
Then there is "Hamlet 2," which just expanded to 1,500 screens. The object of a bidding war at this year's Sundance went to Focus Features for a hefty $10 million.
Coogan adopts an American accent as Dana Marschz, an inept actor turned self-loathing high school drama teacher in Tucson who concocts an inane musical sequel to the Bard's tragedy. A time machine and a moonwalking "Sexy Jesus" figure heavily.
That Dana occasionally dons a caftan (the better to bolster his sperm count) and roller skates like a wobbly newborn calf (it's his only mode of transportation) adds to the often bizarre antics that recall "Waiting for Guffman" and "Rushmore."
