For all the funny actors and cameo appearances in “Get Him to the Greek,” the script falls short of its predecessor, which may arguably have set the bar too high.
Russell Brand reprises his role as Aldous Snow, the rock star from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” back on drugs after splitting with his love interest, Jackie Q, an equally dirty pop-star played by Rose Byrne. He’s also in an artistic slump, with his last record “African Child” being called the “worst album ever” and “the worst thing to happen to Africa since apartheid.”
Jonah Hill plays Aaron Green, a low-level talent scout for a major record label. He’s an affable fan of Snow, similar to his role in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” but with a completely different job. Green, as the title suggests, is in charge of getting him to a major show in L.A. and has a difficult time keeping Snow under control and on schedule. In an attempt to keep Snow from using drugs and alcohol, Green winds up bogarting much of Snow’s stash, which leads to moderately funny results.
The movie was written and directed by Nicholas Stoller, the mastermind behind such average, faintly funny films as “Fun With Dick and Jane,” and “Yes Man.” Stoller doesn’t quite have his finger on the pulse of his audience as well as Segel or Apatow, and the script reflects this lack of vision.
It’s much raunchier and darker as well, focusing largely on Snow’s drug usage and subsequent loneliness, as well as Green’s reluctant sexual exploration having recently broken things off with long-time girlfriend Daphne, played by Elisabeth Moss.
There are also missed opportunities in the songs performed by Infant Sorrow, Snow’s band. They lack the cleverness and double-entendres of “Inside of You” from the first movie and go more for the obvious shock-value and straight-to-the-point raunchiness.
There are, however, some redeeming qualities to the movie. Sean “Diddy” Combs plays a surprisingly funny record executive, Sergio, Green’s boss. He’s a hilariously intimidating character who keeps Green in check when he loses control of Snow, and tries to teach him how to screw with the minds of his clients. He also introduces the “Geoffrey,” a joint mixed with angel dust and other various narcotics, which has them all freaking out in a memorable drug-infused chase scene.
Though the plot has ties to “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” the movie itself is weirder and somewhat weaker. Don’t go see it expecting the kind of comedic chemistry in the former movie. In fact, this one can wait to be rented. B-
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