After a slew of hilarious and crazy films in recent history, from Superbad to 40 Year Old Virgin to the more recent Hangover, Get Him to the Greek seeks to bring in everyone who wants a taste of a bit more. Jonah Hill stars along with Russel Brand in this film. You’ll recognize Jonah from his career-making role in Superbad, though he also had a small role in 40 Year Old Virgin as well. Russel Brand is mostly known for his stand up comedy which he channels in this film.
Plot
Jonah Hill plays Aaron Green, a young and enthusiastic college graduate who is working as an intern at a record company. His girlfriend is a doctor and their different sleep schedules keep them from ever spending much time together. Aaron’s record company has been suffering recently after the drop of popularity of their rock star Aldous Snow (played by Russel Brand). His most recent single, entitled African Child, was a complete failure and Aldous has reacted by retreating to a life of partying and drugs. Aaron is ordered to go to London, get Aldous, and take him to the Greek theater in Los Angeles where he can play a 10 year anniversary show and win back his popularity for himself and the company. Wild antics occur along the way.
Reaction
The overall feel of the movie is a two act play. On one hand, the film uses the expected over-the-top gags that most of the audience is going to love. Crazy drug trips, hilarious over acting, and the scared, confused reactions by our hero Aaron. These are actually the best part of the film as a whole, since that is what everyone expects and paid to see. The director chose to try to create some deeper meaning in the film as well though, which is a difficult path to choose when the subject is so ridiculous.
If the theme was the ridiculous of life, perhaps it could work. Instead, there is a lesson about the meaningless of a life of partying and the equivalent meaningless of a life devoid of partying. While these are good enough themes in their own right, they are approached too forwardly in this film. Just when you think everything is over, the tone of the movie completely changes and some painfully emotional scenes appear out of no where. Unfortunately, these simply don’t work very well.
For those of us who want to see some hilarious antics, this is a film to see. Perhaps some will enjoy the stuck in message, but in all honesty this isn’t the kind of movie that you want to teach you anything. This is the kind of film that is supposed to make you revel in the madness of existence and appreciate just how normal your life is compared so some people. As far as laugh out loud comedy, though, it gets the job done, and that’s all that anyone really asks. Reviewers have given it between a 6 and 7/10.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Him_To_The_Greek
