Get Him to the Greek, released this summer, came out on DVD this week. This movie had me rubbing furry walls, jumping off of roofs into nearby pools and singing “I’ve got the clap” while still maintaining self respect, albeit debatably. In all seriousness, Get Him to the Greek was arguably the comedy of the summer. It had its fair share of raunchy jokes, token celebrity cameos and predictable outcomes. However, anyone watching this movie for its plot quality is in the wrong theater.
The premise begins with Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) looking for his big break at Pinnacle Records, an entertainment enterprise run by Sergio Roma (Sean “P-Diddy” Combs). Roma prods his underlings at Pinnacle Records to hatch a creative idea that will jumpstart the enterprise, and Green suggests an anniversary concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles starring his idol, rock singer Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Roma approves the plan and sends Green on a quest to find Snow and get him to L.A. in time for the concert. Green will soon find that his task is easier said than done, as Snow’s career and personal life begin to dissipate one doobie at a time.
The plot isn’t the most stimulating, but the chaos that ensues between each plotline provides enough hilarity that will have you anticipating what will come next. Get Him to the Greek focuses on the spiral of Aldous Snow’s life and fame, highlighted by over-consumption and irresponsibility that prove to be two of the film’s most endearing traits.
Additionally, Get Him to the Greek represents a subliminal sequel to the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which is no coincidence, given that Nicholas Stoller directed both. There are major differences in plot that separate the films, although certain scenarios and character roles undoubtedly connect the two.
Each movie features Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, the latter playing the disgruntled gigolo Aldous Snow in both films. Get Him to the Greek focuses on the life of rock star Snow, an upgrade from the supporting role that his character played in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Hill’s characters have an equally creepy infatuation with the rock star in both movies, but on the surface the two are independent. Instead of waiting tables and making mix tapes at a Hawaiian resort, Hill plays Aaron Green in Get Him to the Greek, whose fanaticism is radically less psychotic but provides a great link between these two films.
Get Him to the Greek also depicts the connection between music and cinema. The basis of the movie proves the entertainment value of the marriage between music and movies, dramatizing the idolization, reckless partying and general mayhem associated with the life of a rocker. Not only does the movie itself provide a spotlight on the music industry, but the actors show the appreciation and envy that actors and musicians sometimes have for one another. P-Diddy is the most recent on a long list of musicians who have tried their hand acting on the big stage, and he surprisingly added his own comic personality to the film with his brash humor and short temper.
The clever wit of Russell Brand combined with the sarcastic and, in this case, innocent humor of Jonah Hill provide an intriguing juxtaposition that demands success. The opposition of these characters’ lifestyles provide an uncanny relationship that flourishes into a friendship, as both Snow and Green point out the flaws in each other as each try to overcome obstacles in their own personal lives. Behind the partying and hysteria, these characters battle relationship struggles and more that appeal to a wide audience.
Get Him to the Greek combines the mayhem and recklessness of the Hangover and the witty humor of Forgetting Sarah Marshall to provide younger generations with an excuse to rub some fur. “When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke the furry wall.”
This movie is for you if you especially enjoyed Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, want to live vicariously through people who have more money and party opportunities than you and/or have an odd love for stroking furry walls. Get Him to the Greek Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.