Russell Brand is a Rock Star!

Most of us who are fans of rock and roll have a vision of over-the-top rock stars and all of the outlandish characteristics that accompanying that perception. We can also thank Christopher Guest and his satirical film, This is Spinal Tap (1984) for providing a comical look at the Rock and Roll band scene. Get Him to the Greek attempts to do the same, as Aldous Snow, a.k.a. ‘ultimate rock god’ is the quintessence of the rocker stereotype.

Russell Brand from Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) reprises his rock band persona, although he’s a raving lunatic in this film as he’s deep into drugs. Jonah Hill plays Aaron Green, a serious music promoter whose job is to get Snow to the Greek Theater to perform an important 10 year anniversary concert in order to boost his failing career. Green’s boss, P. Diddy, has a brilliant plan that should make everyone lots of money; if Snow cooperates, however.

The film is a road trip gone bad as Snow does not cooperate. In fact, he takes Green on a detour to Las Vegas that has shades of, (you guessed it) The Hangover (2009).

It actually takes Green three days to get a drugged out Snow to his concert. Along the way, we view many hysterical scenes and gags that are typical of the Judd Apatow style. You’ll see most of the gross out scenes that are in the trailers and much more. Green plays a serious and determined guy who wants to succeed. He’s matched perfectly with the unorthodox, zany, Snow and the result is comedic genius. The audience was roaring during the film and so was I. Russell Brand is funny and very convincing as the drugged out rock star. He was actually one of my favorite characters from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It’s no surprise to me that a spin-off film has been made surrounding his character as he certainly owns it; (long hair, quirky attitude, silly philosophical attitudes, demanding personality, manipulative and narcissistic).

Clearly, Brand makes the film. Both he and Hill’s acting abilities are in check as well providing viewers with a very good comedic effort. Hill has also grown up and is not the teen we first came to know in Superbad (2007). He’s a working guy now with a huge responsibility that could cost him his job. Snow is extremely uncooperative and plays along just enough to manipulate Green so he can complete his quest. The hoops he jumps through are outrageous. These usually involve drugs, booze or women. The end result typically plays out with Green in some ridiculous situation.

The laughs are non-stop and utterly stupid. Sean Combs as the demanding music exec (Sergio Roma) is also very likable and funny. In one scene he’s brainstorming with his staff on how to make more money and says, “I have six kids, do you know how many pairs of Air Jordans these kids wear?” In a later scene at his home he’s with the kids who are all jumping on the furniture getting ready to watch their favorite TV show, “The Biggest Loser.”

My favorite scene is the music performance by Russell Brand at The Greek theater near the end of the film. He’s had a bad accident and is injured but performs anyway. The concert has all the trappings of a heavy metal concert complete with major hype, showers of lights and loud, very loud guitar playing. The director is Nicholas Stoller, who also directed Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Together, they appear to be a great match. I’m just curious as to what character Brand will play next, as he was quoted on David Letterman saying that he won’t cut his hair for any role. Of course, he was being silly, but I’m still curious.

Bottom- line: Very good comedy film with great acting. Just know up front there’s major drug use in the film and raunchy situations.

Sarah Adamson © June 2010