David O'ConnellGet Him to the Greek
June 22nd 2010 05:56
2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall was an undeniably funny film. Though the real star was Jason Segel who not only assumed the lead role, but also wrote the original screenplay, Russell Brand’s turn as a megalomaniacal British rock star provided some classic moments. The character of Aldous Snow didn’t seem an obvious candidate for a spin-off movie, but the result, penned by the original’s director Nicholas Stoller, is barely a notch below its predecessor.
Some time has passed since Snow was at the peak of his creative powers. After sabotaging his career with the crass and grossly offensive ‘African Child’ single, Snow had faded away to rejoin the long parade of yesterday’s heroes trapped in pop oblivion.
But now a lowly employee Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) at an ideas-bereft American record label comes up with a plan for both releasing Snow’s back-catalogue and celebrating the 10th anniversary of his famous gig at L.A’s Greek Theatre.
His superior Sergio Roma (Sean Combs) is dubious at first before setting the mission into overdrive once the dollar signs light up in his head. He puts Green on a plane to London to collect Snow with a rendezvous at the Greek just three days away and a stopover in New York in between.
You can almost hear Lalo Schifrin’s Mission: Impossible theme warming up in the background, for this will be no simple task to negotiate the wayward, restless Snow through a minefield littered with distractions of every description. Green becomes enmeshed in Snow’s hedonistic, slightly depraved existence, at the same time trying to put a faltering marriage to one side and concentrate on the task at hand.
As is to be expected, personal issues rear their nasty heads, threatening to derail the relatively simple task of transporting somebody from Point A to Point B. Snow’s estranged wife Jackie Q (an excellent Rose Byrne) is a constant distraction even though the pair haven’t been in contact during the worst phase of Snow’s fizzling career. A dysfunctional relationship with his Las Vegas-based father and loving but loopy mum back home also darken his general mood.
At times, Green is like a bug trapped in a spider’s web, beholden to Snow by his personal admiration and the pressures of Sergio's gentle - or not so gentle - persuasion to prod Snow towards what will hopefully be a date with destiny. And one that rekindles the past, trading old glories for fresh ones.
Juvenile, crude, outlandish, plain dumb: you could toss a dozen similar critical barbs at the film, but equally non-negotiable is the fact that it hits the mark in the most important – and yes, obvious – ways. That is, it’s genuinely funny, and even when not laugh-out-loud funny, it’s amiably entertaining. Brand and Hill play off one another perfectly, their combined Laurel and Hardy-like appearance humourous enough before they ever become embroiled in the hair-brained scenarios that follow.
Is Brand really just playing a slightly exaggerated version of himself? Possibly, he’ll prove to be an irritant to half the audience. The intangibles that inspire our individual reactions to comedy will cover a wide margin: you’ll either love him or hate him, though if you’ve already seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, you’ve at least been pre-warned. Combs does an admirable job in support too, though his role is hardly one begging for nuanced delivery.
Things predictably devolve into mayhem at times, especially in a Vegas party scene where the partaking of a drug cocktail known as a ‘Jeffrey’ ensures that everyone, including Snow’s dad (Colm Meaney), starts to lose a little control. The darkness festering away inside Snow isn’t given short thrift or neatly glossed over either, allowing for a couple of uncomfortably grim moments of internal reflection.
Will Get Him to the Greek be remembered a year from now? Probably not, but regardless, this is perfect Sunday afternoon DVD fodder. It’s a little sad actually when a modern film need only attain this level of competence to surpass 95% of its competitors in the comedy or romantic comedy stakes. And yet as throwaway as it is, this is still one of those rare birds - a comedy worth crowing about.
Hill and Brand with P.Diddy on their tails
A trailer is here.
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Comment by Matt Shea
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
I loved the Forty Year Old Virgin and I loved Super Bad but ever since seeing Walk Hard and Pine Apple Express I've realized that actually forking out money to see these Judd Apatow productions are as risky as a finger up the ass.....
(sorry for that metaphor - it's clearly the result of listening to too much Doug Stanhope stand up comedy)
I will give 'Sarah Marshal' a go - but not this.
Great review
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
after having a full throttle, foul mouthed shouting match with this self obsessed egotistical fu*kwit, Brand I am speaking of, I probably will not be easily entertained by his predictable performance, the basis of his humour being a four letter word, in the place of inventive wit.
cheers
fog
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Fog - do tell please - how did you land up arguing with him or running into him - Brand just looks like a tryhard to me
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Thanks Shaun, to be honest I'm a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this too. As bad as the trailer may look, the film produces some pretty damn funny scenes - a lot of them in fact, and I know the actors look like featherweights on paper but they are a surprisingly good fit for their parts. I've actually never seen Superbad, Walk Hard or Pineapple Express!
Yes Fog, do tell us the full tale!!
It sounds, like Shaun, that you may have a bit of a set against Mr. Brand so I understand if this isn't the most attractive proposition for you. Then again, with such low expectations, you both might emerge from the cinema shocked at the good time you had!!
Very true Deni - it's often best to just disregard the trailer. I'm surprised a film that looks so ordinary in previews actually turned out to be so thoroughly entertaining. It's usually the other way around!
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
hehe! I had to chuckle over that one David... and maybe, you just might be right, however, that would further annoy me!
Shaun, and David, okay, I will l tell the tale...but not now, it is 6am, and I gotta go to bed now, up way too late...
cheers
fog