Strangely gross and hilarious.
by Maurice Bobb / @reesereport
Get Him To The Greek, which opens June 4, reunites Jonah Hill and Russell Brand with Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller. Greek is a quasi-sequel that explores the comedic chemistry between Hill and Brand.
The last time these two shared screen time, Hill played a Luau waiter who worshiped the ground that Aldous Snow (Brand) rocked on. This time around Hill plays a record company executive named Aaron Green who has 72 hours to get the uncooperative and drug addicted Snow from London to L.A.’s world-famous Greek Theatre for a comeback concert. Sean “Diddy” Co
mbs has a significant role as Sergio Roma, the music mogul (real stretch huh?) of Pinnacle Records. Roma sends Green on a mission to corral the fallen rock legend but offers one warning: “The artist is the worst person on Earth. Turn your back on him at your own peril.”
First of all, I loved Superbad. Holy shit balls, I loved that movie. I laughed so hard, I felt like my kidneys were about to burst. And Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Knocked Up were funny as hell, too. So needless to say, if Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, Knocked Up, and Funny People) has anything to do with a movie, I’m going to give that movie a shot.
OVERVIEW
Known for cracking jokes and one-liners, Hill pretty much plays the straight and narrow in this film. Believe it or not, he’s the level-headed guy in this madcap road caper. Green is a grounded music lover who is working a dream job at Pinnacle records and has a live-in girlfriend who is in her residency as a doctor. During a hilarious pitch meeting with Roma, Green comes up with the idea to facilitate Snow’s comeback with an anniversary show at The Greek. Roma buys in to the idea and offers Green his “moment” by getting Snow to leave the UK for L.A. In classic road-movie style, Green encounters many hilarious obstacles while trying to accomplish his “mission.” There are many movie-goers who have or will balk at the idea of Diddy playing for laughs, but let me tell you, he pulls it off big time. Diddy plays his Sergio character to the extreme. I loved the scene he had with Neptunes producer Pharrell. And his explanation of the “mind f*ck” was so funny, I’m sure he’ll use it in some way on his Sean John tees like he did with “No Bitchassness.”
Hill and Brand stop at nothing for the ha has, so I have to warn you there are some extremely gross and “inappropriate” moments in this film—I’d tell you about the airport smuggling scenes, but I don’t want to be the spoiler king. Just know you’ll be squirming in your chair while watching it. But oddly enough, you won’t be able to look away. Additionally, Green has to endure Snow’s sidetrack visits to his father (Vegas) and ex-girlfriend (L.A.), but it’s well worth it for those of us in the audience. Green gets to see the dirty side of the music business first hand and his awkward sensibilities is the perfect device to bounce comedic scenarios off of. Green gets Snow to the Greek, but as a result of all the high jinx and awkward sexual moments, someone may have to get him to the Therapist.
Like most people who viewed the trailers, I had no friggin’ idea what Get Him To The Greek was supposed to mean. But I went in to the screening with an open mind and I’m glad that I did because this film had me blowing snot bubbles and spitting out my Coke from laughing so hard. I even spilled my bag of popcorn all over the place while laughing at the airport scene. If you’re in to this kind of humor like me, this movie is a Dr. J cradle-rock on Michael Cooper slam dunk.
STARTING LINEUP
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Producer: Judd Apatow
Aaron Green: Jonah Hill
Aldous Snow: Russell Brand
Sergio Roma: Sean “Diddy” Combs
Jackie Q: Rose Byrne
Daphne Binks: Elizabeth Moss
Matty: Aziz Ansari
Time spent eating popcorn: 1 hour, 49 minutes
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