Get Him To The Greek (21/06/10) [Archive]

Get Him To The Greek (2010)

Director - Nicholas Stoller
Starring - Jonah Hill & Russell Brand

3.5 stars

There are three reasons why this movie is very funny; Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Sean Combs. The first two you expect it from, whilst the third one is a genuinely good surprise. To be perfectly honest, I would pay fifteen bucks just to watch either Brand or Hill spend a regular day unscripted. Put them together, and I’d pay probably pay ten times that amount. Throw in some structure (a movie narrative) and a convenient location (a movie theatre), and I’m sold. I was never going to hate this film, so take my opinion how you will.

Take out the three big stars, and this movie would go nowhere. The plot is so-so, the script isn’t great and the humour would just seem awkward without them. Rose Byrne works very well as the ex-partner of Brand’s Aldous Snow, but one fears that without Brand she too would struggle. Same goes for Elisabeth Moss who plays Daphne, the girlfriend of Aaron Green (Hill). She definitely provides a couple of laughs, but it’s clear to see that her male counterpart is the catalyst for this humour. Am I being too harsh? Of course I am! Here I am pointing out the fact that the major flaw in this film is due to fact that its lead actors hold it together. In their absence, it would flop, but rest assured, they aren’t absent!

There’s not too much to review about this one. It’s pretty much what you expect. It’s a full on laugh out loud comedy that really doesn’t give you too much time between breaths before you are pissing yourself once again. The dialogue isn’t as good as other Apatow-esque films (Superbad quotes can keep anybody entertained for hours), which make it more obvious how much Brand, Hill and Combs, dominated proceedings here.

There’s a ton of highlights that just have to be seen. A bunch of very funny one on one scenes between Brand and Hill and a brilliant all round performance from P Diddy himself. This movie will ensure that terms like “African child”, “Rub the furry wall” and “Mind Fuck” become part of our dialect and if you still aren’t convinced, a humourous shot of Jonah Hill’s bum is sure to tip you over the line.

You have to have a funny bone of steel to not find Get Him To The Greek laugh out loud worthy but don’t expect miracles. It is by no means cinematic brilliance and I have most certainly seen funnier flicks in my time but you can’t argue with simple entertainment!

PS - The 'Jeffrey' scene = classic.