'Get Him To The Greek'

'Get Him To The Greek' (R) (3 stars)

Writers: Nicholas Stoller and Rodney Rothman
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne, Sean Combs, Colm Meaney

In what has been a terrible summer movie season all I have ever asked for was a simply entertaining and very funny Hollywood commercial movie. "Get Him to the Greek" proves that with the right talent it is not hard to make a good movie. I am not asking for the sun and the moon here, just a good movie. "Get Him to the Greek" might not be a classic comedy but there are parts that are screamingly funny. It also turns out to be a movie with heart and one of the best movies about friendship since "Superbad". There are also two very funny and solid performances by two actors that have announced their arrival. They are Jonah Hill who gives an easy going and charming performance. The other actor is Russell Brand who takes what could have been a caricature and turned him into a deep, multi layered character. Both actors work well off each other and they are both wonderful. The movie is kind of a spin off to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" dealing with that movie's rock star character Aldous Snow played this time with more depth by Russell Brand. The other character played by Hill is a record company employee named Aaron whose girlfriend wants him to move to Seattle. His boss played by Sean Combs, in a very funny performance, assigns him to go get rock star Aldous Snow in England and fly him back to perform a ten year anniversary concert at the Greek theatre. He first has to bring Snow to the "Today" show for an interview. The problem is Aldous Snow is a big drug addict and drunk and it is going to be very hard to get him to that concert. Russell Brand gives an outstanding and very funny performance and he plays drunk and stoned brilliantly. If the rumor is correct that Brand will star in a remake of "Arthur" I actually look forward to it.

Jonah Hill does a great job playing the straight man but is also very funny by the way he reacts to Snow. I see Hill becoming as good as John Belushi and Chris Farley here because he can play all levels of funny and he shows heart also. There are many classic scenes including a priceless moment where Aaron keeps Snow from drinking liquor and smoking heroin. When they wind up on the "Today" show there is a very funny scene with Brand, Hill and Meredith Veira. As they both travel to the Greek there are a lot of vulgar situations and outrageous laughs that build. Some of the moments are very funny and others miss a little but the movie turns out to be more deep as it touches on issues of friendship and commitment. The movie doesn't become sappy or corny but the screenplay is more than just stupid jokes, there is a story here. Part of the depth is supplied by Aaron's and Snow's girlfriends. They are well written characters and not annoying like the "Sex and the City" women. An unrecognizable Rose Byrne (Damages) plays Snow's girlfriend and her performance is hilarious and brilliant. Aaron's girlfriend is played by promising actress Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) and she is very good here as a straighter character and I see a good career ahead of her in movies. There is also a surprisingly flawless and perfect comic performance by Sean Combs. He almost runs off with the movie with his precise and hilarious deadpan delivery. Also any movie with my favorite character actor Colm Meaney in it is good just for him being in it. He plays Snow's father and there is some deep pain in their relationship. It also leads to a very funny fight and hotel trashing scene. So while this movie is not the greatest comedy you will see, the performances are great, the music is very good and there are some hilarious material here with a dash of heart. You also have star making performances by Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, two great female performances and a very impressive Sean Combs. See, it isn't so hard to make a good commercial Hollywood movie after all.