Last weekend, persuaded by above-average reviews and a recommendation from my friend Jaime, I saw Get Him to the Greek, directed by Nicholas Stoller and produced by one Judd Apatow. Yeah, I know it’s the kind of blasé summer movie I complained about in my last review. I have to admit, though, I occasionally enjoy those frat-boy movies; I even own Knocked Up on DVD (with matching coasters!). And so when I headed to the movies, I hoped that Get Him to the Greek would prove to be another enjoyable comedy.
Get Him to the Greek is a spin-off/sequel of sorts for the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie stars Jonah Hill (Funny People) as Aaron Green, an ambitious intern at a record company. One day the head of the label, Sergio (Sean “Diddy” Combs, A Raisin in the Sun), puts Aaron in charge of escorting rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand, reprising his role from Forgetting Sarah Marshall) from London to L.A.
Aaron, a huge fan of Aldous Snow, is thrilled at the opportunity and leaves for London immediately. Snow, however, has been at a low point in his career since the release of his infamous single “African Child”. He’s turned to drugs, alcohol, and may or may not be facing an existential crisis. Basically, it won’t be an easy task for the straight-laced Aaron to get Aldous Snow to his 10th anniversary concert at the Greek Theater.
I really wanted to like Get Him to the Greek, really. And some parts of it are absolutely hilarious (like the video I linked to above). This is one of those things I never thought I would write, but Diddy was great as Sergio. He had some of the movie’s best lines (“Do you have any ideas how many Air Jordans six black kids wear?”) but I kind of feel he was playing an over-the-top version of himself. I can’t complain about Hill and Brand’s performances either. I thought Rose Byrne (Damages, 28 Weeks Later) was a standout though, as Aldous’ ex-girlfriend, pop-star Jackie Q. I first noticed her in Troy, opposite Brad Pitt, and I’m glad she can do comedies as well as dramas.
So, despite the good performances, why didn’t I like the movie? Honestly, a lot of the humor just wasn’t for me. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I can only take so many jokes about drugs/sex/vomit. Perhaps that’s why I found the tone to be really uneven- alternately funny and dull. Plus, like so many Apatow-produced movies, it dragged on just a bit too long. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there are two particular plot points that were very out of place. As a whole, Get Him to the Greek just didn’t work for me. Aldous Snow says “When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke the furry wall” but I rather not.
Have you seen Get Him to the Greek? What do you think?
~ Sarah