Film Review: Get Him to the Greek

I've never really 'got' Russell Brand. People laud him as being 'funny' and 'intelligent', two traits I scarcely detect in the man. Sure, unlike many comedians he uses big, clever words and appears to be well read, but this does not necessarily strike an accord with intelligence. Thus the only conclusion I can come to to explain the phenomenon that is Russell Brand is that his fan base, who are not as well-read, instantly equate his admittedly sometimes eloquent use of words to intellect. Elitistly put, they're idiots. That is not to say that a dislike or hate Russell Brand, rather that I am at a total loss as to why this semi-talented, flamboyant extrovert commands the popularity he does. Regardless of my incredulity, Brand has actually starred in a couple of films that have amused me, this being one of them. In what is essentially a spin-off of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Brand reprises his role as British rock star Aldous Snow in Get Him to the Greek. You need not have seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but there are a couple of 'in-jokes' that pepper the film which you may not get otherwise. Anyhow, onward!

With Pinnacle Records caught in a global recession and falling music sales, junior executive Aaron Green (Hill) comes up with the idea to boost profits by resurrecting the career of his idol, washed-out has-been British rock star Aldous Snow (Brand), by staging a sell-out gig at the Greek Theatre in LA. However, if the tabloids are to be believed, gaining the compliance of boozed-up, drug addicted rock stars is an entirely different kettle of fish.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a somewhat ironic title, given that while a pleasant film, it is forgettable. Two things about the film however remained pervasive; the hedonistic Aldous Snow character and Jonah Hill's performance as obsessed fan. Naturally then it is not too surprising that the two are reunited here in this sequel of sorts, allowing Brand to gain a promotion from supporting actor to super star. Likewise Hill takes on a main role, albeit not as the same Sarah Marshall character, but somewhat confusingly happens to be just as much as an Aldous Snow super-fan. Hill acts as the down-to-earth, sensible, grounding character, enabling Brand to take on the hyperbolic rock star as a sort of cavalier cross between Michael McKean, Liam Gallagher and, well, himself. This essentially amounts to a fairly typical mismatched-buddy affair. Whilst an enjoyable romp with some genuinely hilarious moments, especially the mock music videos throughout, Get Him to the Greek unfortunately suffers from incoherency.

Brand is fine as the egotistical, self-absorbed twat we've all come to recognise in Bono and Bob Geldoff, but because Snow embodies the rock star clichés so well, it becomes a bit tedious to watch as the film goes on. Indeed, the film embarks on so many tangents to try and explain why Snow is such a prat in the first place that it begins to become difficult to squeeze funnies out of them. Indeed, it descends somewhat into dullness all too frequently for my liking. Fortunately however there are enough bright spots to make this film entertaining enough. Notably, and somewhat surprisingly, Sean Combs' (P.Diddy, Puff Daddy, Diddly Pop, Piddly D, whatever...) steals the show as big cheese of Pinnacle Records, Sergio. Also worth mentioning is the music of Snow's ex-wife, Jackie Q (Byrne), sporting some incredibly debauched, yet equally hilarious lyrics.

Get Him to the Greek is patchy. Hilarious in places, dull in others. It misses a few tricks but if you've got nothing better to do and don't know what to stick in your DVD player, it's one of those kind of films you would pop in for the occasion. "I'm mind fucking you right now".