St. Petersburg Times

The highlight of the tastelessly hilarious ÒForgetting Sarah MarshallÓ was Russell Brand, an Englishman but not a gentleman, whose portrayal of a decadent and dim rock ÕnÕ roll star stole the show.

That character, Aldous Snow, lead singer of the mope-rock group Infant Sorrow, deserved his own movie. Now he has one Ñ ÒGet Him to the GreekÓ Ñ and writer-director Nicholas Stoller doesnÕt always know what to do with him. The movie is like an old vinyl LP; the best cuts are on the first side, thereÕs a bangup finish and a lot of filler material in between.

The irresistible opening catches us up on Aldous since ÒForgetting Sarah MarshallÓ (with a funny cameo by Kristen Bell). He has been sober for seven years, with his career ruined by a racially insensitive song deemed the worst single of the decade.

His latest girlfriend, Jackie Q (Rose Byrne), dumps him for a parade of still-shining stars. Aldous is a relapsed has-been about to be redeemed by a never-was.

Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is a yes man for music recording mogul Sergio Roma (Sean ÒP. DiddyÓ Combs), who could be the next movie spinoff. Sergio is desperate for a big payday and wants ideas now.

Aaron is a devoted Infant Sorrow fan who suggests a concert at L.A.Õs Greek Theater marking the 10th anniversary of a live album the band recorded there, with all its ancillary sales. Sergio loves it, and Aaron has 72 hours to pry Aldous from London to do the show. (DonÕt worry that such a project would take weeks to produce.)

The result is a series of misadventures too convoluted to explain and too raunchy to describe in a family publication. ÒGet Him to the GreekÓ is a comedy steeped in drugs, sex and rock ÕnÕ roll, in that order of attention to comedy. Drugs provide the most gags but narco jokes get tiresome by the time absinthe, heroin and an adrenaline needle come into play.

And, if youÕre making a comedy about rock ÕnÕ roll, the songs need to be somewhere near Spinal Tap quality. AldousÕ playlist is middling mockery of rock until the very last song, which is a comical callback joke.

In the filmÕs midsection, Aldous becomes a darker character than necessary, taking the comedy level down with him. Brand is a former sex and heroin addict himself, so Aldous becomes a bit too much of a purging of past sins. Aaron gets to be his lumpy punching bag, which is jolting after he has been such a sweet protege in vice.

But the odd coupling works, thanks mostly to Brand throwing himself into AldousÕ hedonism to hilarious effect. ÒGet Him to the GreekÓ is a second-class act with a terrific frontman. Suddenly it feels safer to know that itÕs Brand reviving Dudley MooreÕs role in a remake of ÒArthur.Ó

ÔGet Him to the GreekÕ

3 stars

Starring: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Rose Byrne, Colm Meaney, Sean ÒP. DiddyÓ Combs, Elisabeth Moss

Rating: R, for harsh profanity, pervasive drug and alcohol abuse, nudity and sexual content

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