Russell Brand in 'Get Him to the Greek'. Courtesy Universal Home Entertainment
In 2008′s Forgetting Sarah Marshall Russell Brand portrayed the rock star character Aldous Snow. It was a small role that only existed to make the protagonist Peter (Jason Segel) jealous. Get Him to the Greek allows Brand to run with the Aldous character — and when you unleash Brand, things can get crazy.
Aldous has been sober for seven years, but after his latest album “African Child” bombs, he falls off the wagon and goes back to the world of drugs and booze and acts like a maniac during public and television appearances. Cut to the boardroom of a Los Angeles-based record label where employee Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) pitches the idea of signing Aldous, his idol, for a reunion gig at the Greek Theatre in L.A. His boss Sergio Roma (Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs) agrees to the idea on the condition that Aaron has to pick Aldous up in London and get him back to Los Angeles and to the concert on time.
From the time Aldous and Aaron meet, the movie becomes downright hilarious in a sleazy and dirty way, with endless scenes of sex, drugs, and lewd debauchery filling the screen often. Pairing Brand and Hill together was a genius move as the two play off each other brilliantly with Brand’s over-the-top routine and Hill’s dry sense of humour mixing better than any other recent comedic duo I can recall. The supporting cast, especially Combs, deliver lots of laughs as well.
If you think films like The Hangover or Due Date are raunchy fun, Get Him to the Greek makes them look like movies for kids. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (from laughing), and you’ll want to watch it again.
The Blu-ray
Film **** / Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars)
Rated 18A
Cast: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Sean Combs, Rose Byrne
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
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