I’ve decided that I like Russell Brand. He is one entertaining mother fornicator. I try not to swear in these, which is very hard for someone like me, so please forgive the cheesy way I chose to express myself. Moving on….
In this movie, Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is working for a record company. His boss, Sergio, played by Sean Combs (I think he’s going by P Diddy nowadays…) needs him to go to London to get Aldous Snow (Brand), and take him to The Greek. As in the Greek Theater in L.A. The problem is Aldous is washed up. He’s also a classic rock star. Not the kind whose hair gets shorter, straighter and blonder with each video. You know who you are. He’s the kind who misses many planes in order to get his party on. So it’s kind of a challenge for poor Aaron, who desperately wants to make a good impression with his boss.
Ok, enough about the story. Who cares. It’s a funny movie aimed at a specific audience. If you like Judd Apatow’s sort of movies, this one is for you. So go see it. I will say this: there are a couple of scenes where Russel Brand is quite serious and you’re not sure if something funny is being set up. There isn’t. He was quite surprising and good with the serious stuff too.
Now for the 3rd star of the movie that didn’t get much face time in the preview, and quite frankly was almost funnier than the stars themselves. Sean Combs had some of the best, most ridiculously funny scenes in this movie. In fact, there isn’t a single scenes he’s in that didn’t make me laugh. Who knew? He eats his own head. That’s right, try to figure out how.
The songs in this movie are so stupid and funny. They’re comprised of every sort of body part or sex innuendo you can imagine. My bangers and mash. My ring around the rosy, it’s so cozy. (I’m talking about my ass hole). Yup, you name it, they wrote it, while peeing themselves laughing. I wonder if they pictured the latest teen pop stars singing them while scribbling down the lyrics. Maybe they were making some sort of commentary about how all music is basically sexual innuendo, just not as obvious? Maybe.
I did take issue with a couple of things. One, Aaron’s girlfriend Daphne (Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men). There was no chemistry there. She had one scene where she’s supposed to kiss him, and she does it with a closed mouth, lips stuck together as tightly as she could. It was obvious she had no interest in kissing this man she’s supposed to be so in love with. I kiss my best friend with more passion. They came off like brother and sister more than anything else.
Which brings me to the second thing I took issue with. The worse, most uncomfortable and unfunny three way ever. I did not want to see these people get it on (The couple with Aldouse), so all I could do was giggle because I felt too uncomfortable to do anything else. Awkward doesn’t quite cover it.
Other than that, it was funny. Brand was really good, not just with the funny stuff. P Diddy is funny. Jonah Hill is the same as he is in all his movies, except he’s supposed to be straight laced in this. Until Aldous gets his hands on him of course. Then it’s balloons up the but and bathroom stall sex with strangers. Good times.
It’s been a while since a movie has made me laugh as much as this one.