'Sarah Marshall' spinoff never really takes off
Published on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 by Bob ConnallyRead More Arts & Entertainment
"Get Him to the Greek"
(R, Available 9/28)
Two years ago, at the height of the Apatow factory's output, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" arrived. It was no "Knocked Up" or "Superbad," but it was a very enjoyable comedy. Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis all did fine work, but as crude Brit-rocker Aldous Snow, Russell Brand outshone them all. Due to the character's success, "FSM" director Nicholas Stoller has made a film with Aldous at its center.
Things start promisingly enough with Aldous and pop star girlfriend Jackie Q (Rose Byrne) starring in the music video for the self-congratulatory "African Child." Many of "FSM's" best moments involved taking shots at celebrity nonsense and this first scene upholds that tradition. The idea that no one knew anything was wrong in Africa until Bono told us has long annoyed me, so this was pretty satisfying. After this scene, however, it became apparent that something was amiss here.
Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is possibly the only person with ideas at a major record label. It's been ten years since Snow's legendary performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, but the failure of "African Child" has turned Aldous into a has-been. Aaron's plan to stage an anniversary concert is well-received by his boss, Sergio Roma (P. Diddy). After Aldous agrees to perform, Aaron is tasked with the responsibility of bringing him from London to L.A.
As expected, things don't go according to plan and Aldous gets the fairly strait-laced Aaron into all sorts of shenanigans over the next three days. Having just broken up with his girlfriend, Daphne (Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"), Aaron's not mentally or emotionally in a great place and Aldous doesn't help matters.
Near the end the movie takes a more serious turn, but it doesn't have the emotional impact it intends and it simply feels out of place.
"Get Him to the Greek" is mostly just flat. There are occasional moments in which Stoller gets the tone just right, particularly the quick montage of Aldous and Aaron's night in London and later on as the two run away from the sort of situation that only rock stars could get into. But the overall attempt to fully round out Aldous just doesn't work. It could have, but the serious character development feels forced and the chemistry between Brand and Hill never quite seems to fly.
P. Diddy, meanwhile, is just not a comedic acting talent. In the right hands Roma could have been a very funny character. It feels as though each of his scenes was done in one take and he frightened everyone on set into telling him that it was perfect. "Cut, print, we're moving on."
Ironically, like "FSM," the unlikely star is a supporting character. As Jackie Q, Byrne shines brightly in her very limited screen time and she seems to be the only character who is in the movie that "Get Him to the Greek" should be. She's a glimpse at what might have been.
4.5/10.
(R, Available 9/28)
Two years ago, at the height of the Apatow factory's output, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" arrived. It was no "Knocked Up" or "Superbad," but it was a very enjoyable comedy. Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis all did fine work, but as crude Brit-rocker Aldous Snow, Russell Brand outshone them all. Due to the character's success, "FSM" director Nicholas Stoller has made a film with Aldous at its center.
Things start promisingly enough with Aldous and pop star girlfriend Jackie Q (Rose Byrne) starring in the music video for the self-congratulatory "African Child." Many of "FSM's" best moments involved taking shots at celebrity nonsense and this first scene upholds that tradition. The idea that no one knew anything was wrong in Africa until Bono told us has long annoyed me, so this was pretty satisfying. After this scene, however, it became apparent that something was amiss here.
Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is possibly the only person with ideas at a major record label. It's been ten years since Snow's legendary performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, but the failure of "African Child" has turned Aldous into a has-been. Aaron's plan to stage an anniversary concert is well-received by his boss, Sergio Roma (P. Diddy). After Aldous agrees to perform, Aaron is tasked with the responsibility of bringing him from London to L.A.
As expected, things don't go according to plan and Aldous gets the fairly strait-laced Aaron into all sorts of shenanigans over the next three days. Having just broken up with his girlfriend, Daphne (Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"), Aaron's not mentally or emotionally in a great place and Aldous doesn't help matters.
Near the end the movie takes a more serious turn, but it doesn't have the emotional impact it intends and it simply feels out of place.
"Get Him to the Greek" is mostly just flat. There are occasional moments in which Stoller gets the tone just right, particularly the quick montage of Aldous and Aaron's night in London and later on as the two run away from the sort of situation that only rock stars could get into. But the overall attempt to fully round out Aldous just doesn't work. It could have, but the serious character development feels forced and the chemistry between Brand and Hill never quite seems to fly.
P. Diddy, meanwhile, is just not a comedic acting talent. In the right hands Roma could have been a very funny character. It feels as though each of his scenes was done in one take and he frightened everyone on set into telling him that it was perfect. "Cut, print, we're moving on."
Ironically, like "FSM," the unlikely star is a supporting character. As Jackie Q, Byrne shines brightly in her very limited screen time and she seems to be the only character who is in the movie that "Get Him to the Greek" should be. She's a glimpse at what might have been.
4.5/10.