Renaissance Man, The Regeneration Of Bill Rago

Renaissance Man, The Regeneration of Bill Rago

Renaissance Man is an average, entertaining comedy. The story is a cliche as other similar Hollywood movies like Dead Poet Society, although Shakespeare's Hamlet is used as a motivation and teaching method. The story turns around an unsuccessful Princeton graduate, at the last resort, and young military students who are misfits, and are trying to escape from their pasts. Movie tells the power of literacy, and effects on their lives.

Renaissance Man starts by introducing Bill Rago (Danny DeVito) to the audience. He is struggling in both personal and professional life. He is fired from his job, can not afford the rent or take care of the bills, divorced and has a bad relationship with his teenage daughter. This

well-educated, smart but unsuccessful man comes to a point that he has no chance but to apply to an employment agency for a job.

After a struggle with the lady on the front desk, he finds a job as a teacher in the army. His personality is opposite of the army members and he really does not want to be there or even be a teacher. When he meets with his students who are Private Donnie Benitez (Lillo Brancato) , Pvt. Miranda Myers (Stacey Dash), Pvt. Jamaal Montgomery (Kadeem Harrison), Pvt. Jackson Leroy (Richard T. Jones), Pvt. Roosevelt Nathaniel Hobbs (Khalil Kain), Pvt. Brian Davis Junior (Peter Simmons), Pvt. Melvin (Gregory Sporleder), Pvt. Tommy Lee Haywood (Mark Wahlberg), he starts looking for another job. Students unfit to the society and particularly to the army. His students are uneducated, less privileged members of the society and army is their last chance, same as Bill Rago. Students discover Shakespeare's Hamlet during the time that Bill Rago is reading it. He sells the book to them instead of saying them it is a classic literature. He tells them it is about sexuality, murder, incest,

conspiracy and a father and son story. This attracts their attention and every single one of them wants to read the book. They get assignments, and discussions on the book which helps them know and understand themselves while exploring Shakespeare. Everyone changes, learn their strengths. The squad discovers creativity. Bill establishes bonds with them and explores himself. He actually learns the most out of everyone. By the help of Shakespeare, each one of them finds their way to success.
This movie has an average story and quality despite the cast, but it is intriguing as the story revolves around Shakespeare's Hamlet. Director manages to make it a comedy that Shakespeare would have done in the sixteen hundreds. Although the movie did not pass the expectation, personally it is a watchable movie for everyone. The message is clear and straight, without any long analysis or confusing discussions. These aspects suits the movie's theme. If the reader can make a literature simple and attractive, literature can help improve lives. This can be referred to the long lasting discussion about Should Shakespeare be taught in schools? Shakespeare is the most powerful and important part of the English literature, and taking the chance to learn it, even a little piece, is a big privilege. Everyone can find something in his stories for themselves. This movie simply and hilariously support this argument, and achieves its goal.
Renaissance Man may not be a cult or classic movie of its kind but the message and cast makes it watchable, and gets the viewer thinking about Shakespeare and literature, while entertaining them. It is like a soap opera on television, but the message is about the power of literacy and how it effects people and their lives. This movie should be on the watch list, since while educating about Shakespeare it entertains the viewer as well.