Early in the film, Get Him to The Greek, a spin-off of the brilliantly funny Forgetting Sarah Marshall, seems to have all the promise of its predecessor. Russell Brand reprises his role as rock-star lothario Aldous Snow, the character that elevated the first film from comic mediocrity to a stratospheric level of hilarity. Once again, Brand’s performance is spot on; his caricature of celebrity egoism and brashness is impeccable, though the British bad boy persona seems an echo of the bygone Rolling Stones-era.
Nevertheless, Brand is superb, and in the first 15 minutes of the film, it appears as if writer/director Nicholas Stoller has crafted a deft satire of all that’s despicable about tabloid figures: their shoddily feigned political conscience, unbridled diva-ism, shameful public antics and the embarrassing fact that our society takes such interest in following these follies.
However, mid-way through Greek, the film looses not only its sharp propensity for cultural criticism, but its farcical steam as well. Jonah Hill may be the one to blame; he’s genuinely unfunny as the record company intern charged with Snow’s care. The acting isn’t all that’s wrong with this movie. Even as a bromance, it is inexcusably chauvinistic, with women portrayed either as selfish ball-busters or promiscuous groupies – a failing not in the least remedied by the sappy resolution by its close.
If a comedy’s going to be offensive, it should at least be funny. What Greek offers instead is a stale morality tale. To its credit, the film does have a few laugh-out-loud moments, but not enough to really sustain it. In the comedy dry spell of this year’s box office line-up, Get Him to the Greek might be a merely satisfying gulp, but it’s nothing compared to producer Judd Apatow’s usual fare.
