Get Him to the Greek

First, let me say that as a discerning film votary, this shatters no preconceived notions of the Judd Apatow comedy paradigm or rises above and beyond to contend in the 2011 Oscars. "Get Him to the Greek", directed by Nicholas Stoller, stays steady on the road we've come to know from the Apatow crowd and it does so with the utmost excellence.

This movie is not here to win awards, it's here to make every single person in the crowd laugh their asses off, and it did just that. Maybe it was the fact that the tickets were free, or it was an advanced screening, or possibly because Aziz Ansari (who makes a minuscule appearance) is in it and is a local hero after his stand up last semester, but it seemed more like a show than a movie. Hell, the kid in front of us was so excited for the movie he showed up drunk and started ranting that a castle should be built on campus. College...

Anywho, Jonah Hill plays the same nerdy, indie, giddy to be touching a female character that is as commonplace as Will Ferrel stripping for no apparent reason in well, every movie of his. Regardless, Hill's character, Aaron Green, fits in with perfection. He must wrangle the super rock star, Aldous Snow, played by Russell Brand, from his home in London all the way to the Greek Theatre in LA for a reunion concert after splitting from the love of his life as well as falling off the wagon. And guess what? There's a deadline! 72 hours. *gasp*

Cliché story arc's aside, Greek is chock-full of wonderful cameos. Sergio, played by P-Diddy, Diddy, Puff Daddy, whatever, was the surprise hit on the movie. He is Aaron's (Hill) boss and is a walking quote machine. I found his lines forced and rigid at the start, but with time he easily becomes the best part of Greek, screaming obscenities and orders that were perfect. The entire Vegas scene (you'll see) would have been mediocre at best without Sergio (Diddy) doing his thing. There's a cameo by the kid who plays Draco in Harry Potter and my friend with me, a die-hard Potter fan was hyperventilating so loud I was sure she was going to need CPR.

Bottom line, if you can handle a barrage of profanities, a plethora of nudity, and some aching ribs from laughing, then I say go for it. The expected heartwarming ending is a tacky cherry on top of an above-average comedy sundae - almost as tacky as that analogy.

So here goes my first official grade of a film on my brand new blog! Drum roll please...

B-

The first of many to come

Tomorrow I will be attending the advanced screening of "Get Him to the Greek" at the JMU campus movie theater. While I know the idea of my first official film review consisting of a comedy led by Jonah Hill is a....questionable choice, you gotta start somewhere!

This is also an advanced screening, so I'll have a little edge over the rest of the blogosphere and intrawebs commentators giving their two cents.

Most importantly though, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was one of the best comedies I have seen in a very long time, and the same director and writer are reprising their roles for Greek.
So prepare for my review to come some time tomorrow!