Get Him to the Greek

Get Him to the Greek

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Produced by
Written by Nicholas Stoller
Based on Characters 
by Jason Segel
Starring
Music by Lyle Workman
Cinematography Robert Yeoman
Edited by
  • William Kerr
  • Michael Sale
Production
companies
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • June 4, 2010 (2010-06-04)
Running time
 109 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $40 million[2]
Box office $91.3 million[3]

Get Him to the Greek is a 2010 American comedy film written, produced and directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. Released on June 4, 2010, the film serves as a spin-off sequel of Stoller's 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, reuniting director Stoller with stars Hill and Brand. Brand reprises his role as character Aldous Snow from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, while Hill plays an entirely new character. The film also stars Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Colm Meaney.

Plot

In 2008, British cheeky chappy rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) releases an album and a titular single — "African Child", which is a commercial and critical failure. In an interview, despite having been teetotal and free of drugs, along with his pop-star girlfriend Jackie Q (Rose Byrne), she drunkenly declares they have a boring life in an interview. He relapses — which effectively ends his relationship with her, makes him lose custody of their son, Naples, sabotages his career and makes him become a slacker. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) works as a talent scout at Pinnacle Records, a successful record company. He lives with his girlfriend, Daphne (Elisabeth Moss), a doctor. Pinnacle Records is performing badly as a result of poor record sales, and the head of the company, Sergio Roma (Sean Combs), asks for ideas. Green proposes that Aldous Snow play at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on the tenth anniversary of his legendary performance there in 1999.

Sergio sends Aaron to London to escort Aldous to the performance. Before he leaves, Daphne informs Aaron that she has received a job offer in Seattle and that they are moving there, which leads to an argument resulting in an apparent break-up. After retrieving Aldous from his apartment, Aaron learns that Aldous had not been expecting him and that he had thought the concert was not for another two months. They then bar-hop across the city and Aaron futilely tries to get Aldous to catch one of many missed flights. Daphne calls Aaron to apologize for the fight, only to learn that Aaron believes that they are broken up. Throughout his partying, Aaron's cellphone accidentally calls Daphne periodically, informing her of Aaron's activities. Aaron and Aldous travel to New York City for Aldous's appearance on Today. To keep Aldous sober for his performance, Aaron imbibes all of Aldous's whiskey and marijuana. Minutes before the performance, Aldous realizes he is unable to remember the lyrics to his most recent and unpopular song, "African Child", and replaces it with an older hit, "The Clap", to cheers and excitement from the audience.

About to embark on a flight to Los Angeles, Aldous forces Aaron to smuggle heroin in his rectum. During their travels, Aaron learns that Aldous has become depressed and troubled, as he misses his son and has been alienated from his own father Jonathan (Colm Meaney) for years. Aaron suggests he visit him after the show; instead Aldous insists they go to Las Vegas to see Jonathan. Sergio soon arrives, with plans to "mindfuck" Aldous to Los Angeles. Sergio hooks up Aaron with a sexually violent girl named Destiny (Carla Gallo), who takes him to a hotel room and rapes him. After Aaron tells Aldous that he has been raped, Aldous gives him a "Jeffrey", a joint described as "a Neapolitan of drugs". Aaron panics and starts to have a bad trip, believing he is having a heart attack. Jonathan makes the trip worse by agreeing that Aaron is having a heart attack while Aldous attempts to calm Aaron down, primarily by the comforting sensation of stroking the furry walls of the hotel suite. Aldous fights with his father; Sergio (who is also high) jumps in the fight, and inadvertently sets the lounge on fire.

Aldous attempts to help Aaron by giving him an adrenaline shot and they run out of the hotel, chased by Sergio, who is hit by a car but comes out unharmed. Aldous and Aaron flee to Los Angeles, where Aaron convinces Aldous to visit Jackie Q. She has been sleeping with Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich (playing himself) and confesses that Naples is not actually his biological son, but instead is a photographer's son. This makes him even more miserable. Meanwhile, Aaron goes to his home to apologize to Daphne. They are interrupted when Aldous arrives at their house and proposes that he, Aaron, and Daphne engage in a threesome; Daphne (who is mad at Aaron) agrees and Aaron hesitantly goes along. During the threesome, Aaron angrily decides to kiss Aldous, breaking it up. Daphne and Aaron both immediately regret the threesome, and Aaron angrily tells Aldous to go, criticizing Aldous's overall mental state. Instead of preparing for his show, Aldous goes to the rooftop of the Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and calls Aaron, threatening to jump. Aaron rushes to the hotel, and attempts to coax Aldous down from the roof.

Instead, Aldous jumps into a rooftop pool several floors down, accidentally breaking his arm. Aldous tells Aaron that he is lonely, sad and embarrassed, but Aaron reminds Aldous that thousands of fans love him and are waiting just to see him. Aldous decides to perform at the Greek Theatre despite his injury, even though Aaron pleads for him to go to the hospital. Upon their arrival, Sergio offers Aaron drugs to give to Aldous so he will not cancel the concert. Aaron, tired of the abuse Sergio has given him, refuses and quits his job on the spot, much to Sergio's dismay. Aaron walks stage-side with Aldous, trying to convince him to go to the hospital instead. However, Aaron sees how happy Aldous is while performing and heads home to reconcile with Daphne. Months later in Seattle (where Aaron and Daphne have moved), Aldous, sober once again, has returned to fame with a single "Furry Walls" produced by Aaron (now his official producer) based on events from their night in Las Vegas, performing on the VH1 Storytellers program.

Cast

Hill at a panel for the film at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas in May 2010

Cameo guest stars

Brand's friends Karl Theobald, Greg "Mr Gee" Sekweyama and Jamie Sives also appear in the film.

Production

Development

A week after the release of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Universal Studios announced a new film Get Him to the Greek, reuniting Jonah Hill and Russell Brand with writer/director Nicholas Stoller and producer Judd Apatow.[4] Variety initially announced the project would focus on "fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster (Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.'s Greek Theatre."[4] In July 2008, Brand mentioned that he would be reprising his Aldous Snow role from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in a new film from Apatow in which the character was back on drugs.[5]

In an interview with CHUD.com, Apatow would later reveal that Get Him to the Greek was indeed a spin-off of Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Brand again playing a no-longer-sober Aldous Snow while in a different interview Nicholas Stoller said that Jonah Hill will play a different character named Aaron Green, a young music executive.[6][7]

Filming

Filming in Cavendish Square, London.

While Brand was backstage at the Paramount studio lot preparing to present the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, he approached Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Katy Perry about filming cameos for Get Him to the Greek.[8][9]

Rehearsals began on April 27, 2009 and filming began on May 12 of that year. The film was shot in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and London.[6] While filming in Trafalgar Square, Brand was pushed into a fountain by a passerby.[10]

Release

Critical reception

Get Him to the Greek received generally positive reviews. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 72% based on 191 reviews, with an average score of 6.3/10[11] The critical consensus is: "Thanks to a suitably raunchy script and a pair of winning performances from Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, Get Him to the Greek is one of the year's funniest comedies."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 65 out of 100, based on 39 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars by saying that "under the cover of slapstick, cheap laughs, raunchy humor, gross-out physical comedy and sheer exploitation, Get Him to the Greek also is fundamentally a sound movie."[13]

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film debuted at #2 behind Shrek Forever After with a gross of $17,570,955.[14] The movie fell to fourth the following week with a weekend gross of $10,100,000. In the UK, Get Him to the Greek opened at #1 grossing £1,569,556 in its first week before dropping to #2 the following week with takings of £1,048,898. It has collected $60,974,475 in the United States and Canada as well as $30,287,004 overseas bringing its worldwide total to $91,261,479.[3]

Home media

A 2-disc and 1-disc unrated and theatrical version of the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on September 28, 2010.

Music

Soundtrack

Get Him to the Greek: Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Infant Sorrow
Released June 1, 2010
Genre Soundtrack
Label Universal Republic
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
allmusic[15]
Pitchfork5.5/10[16]

Kim Garner, the senior vice president of marketing and artist development at Universal Republic Records, said that Brand and Universal Pictures "felt very strongly about doing something like this as opposed to a traditional soundtrack," and that they "wanted to release it like we would an actual rock band's album."[17]

Track listing
No. TitleLyricsArtist Length
1. "Just Say Yes"  Jarvis Cocker, Jason Buckle, Tim McCall, Ross OrtonInfant Sorrow 2:18
2. "Gang of Lust"  Carl BaratInfant Sorrow 2:03
3. "Furry Walls"  Dan Bern, Mike Viola, Judd ApatowInfant Sorrow 3:07
4. "Going Up"  Jason Segel, Lyle WorkmanInfant Sorrow 4:06
5. "Bangers, Beans and Mash"  Jason Segel, Lyle WorkmanInfant Sorrow 3:32
6. "The Clap"  Dan Bern, Mike ViolaInfant Sorrow 2:44
7. "I Am Jesus"  Jason Segel, Lyle WorkmanInfant Sorrow 2:39
8. "Riding Daphne"  Jason Segel, Lyle WorkmanInfant Sorrow 3:28
9. "F.O.H."  Jarvis Cocker, Chilly GonzalesInfant Sorrow 3:52
10. "Yeah Yeah Oi Oi"  Dan Bern, Mitch MarineInfant Sorrow 2:52
11. "African Child (Trapped in Me)"  Mike ViolaInfant Sorrow 3:06
12. "Little Bird"  Mike ViolaInfant Sorrow 3:24
13. "Searching for a Father"  Jason Segel, Lyle WorkmanInfant Sorrow 3:43
14. "Supertight"  Jason Segel, Lyle Workman, Russell BrandJackie Q featuring Aldous Snow 2:37
15. "Ring Round"  Greg Kurstin, Inara GeorgeJackie Q 2:25
Total length:
 46:10
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No. TitleLyricsArtist Length
16. "Jackie Q"  Carl BaratInfant Sorrow 3:41
17. "Pound Me in the Buttox"  Paul Clarke, Matthew DickJackie Q featuring Aldous Snow 3:31
18. "Chocolate Daddy"  Lyle Workman, Rodney RothmanChocolate Daddy 2:54
19. "Fuck Your Shit Up"  Lyle WorkmanJumbo Shrimp 2:28

The following songs were featured in the film, but not included in the soundtrack:

  1. "And Ghosted Pouts (Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt)" by The Mars Volta
  2. "London Calling" by The Clash
  3. "Anarchy in the U.K." by The Sex Pistols
  4. "20th Century Boy" by T.Rex
  5. "Rocks Off" by The Rolling Stones
  6. "Another Girl, Another Planet" by The Only Ones
  7. "Strict Machine" by Goldfrapp
  8. "Ghosts N Stuff" by Deadmau5 featuring Rob Swire
  9. "Personality Crisis" by The New York Dolls
  10. "Girls on the Dance Floor" by Far East Movement
  11. "Heureux Tous Les Deux" by Franck Alamo
  12. "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners
  13. "Cretin Hop" by The Ramones
  14. "Stop Drop and Roll" by Foxboro Hot Tubs
  15. "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey
  16. "Love Today" by Mika
  17. "Fuck Me I'm Famous" by DJ Dougal and Gammer
  18. "What Planet You On" by Bodyrox featuring Luciana
  19. "Inside of You" by Infant Sorrow (which was originally featured in Forgetting Sarah Marshall).
  20. "Licky feat. Princess Superstar (Herve Remix)" by Larry Tee

References

  1. ↑ "GET HIM TO THE GREEK (15)". British Board of Film Classification. April 19, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ Fritz, Ben (June 3, 2010). "Movie projector: 'Get Him to the Greek' and 'Killers' aiming for No. 2 against 'Shrek'". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). Retrieved June 4, 2010. Greek cost Universal and its financing partners Relativity Media and Spyglass Entertainment about $40 million to make.
  3. 1 2 "Get Him to the Greek Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  4. 1 2 Siegel, Tatiana (April 22, 2008). "Apatow, Stoller speak 'Greek'". Variety. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  5. ↑ "Brand's Booky Wook not a Filmy Wilm". The Press Association. July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on July 12, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Exclusive Nick Stoller Interview". Collider.com. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  7. ↑ Faraci, Devin (July 29, 2008). "Spinning off from sarah marshall". Cinematic Happenings Under Development. External link in |work= (help)
  8. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Kissed Russell Brand?". Aguilerabuff.com. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  9. ↑ Hogan, Dave (September 10, 2008). "Brand: MTV want me back next year". The Sun. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  10. ↑ Firth, Niall (August 8, 2009). "That's not in the script: Russell Brand pushed into fountain by passer-by while filming movie". The Daily Mail.
  11. 1 2 "Get Him to the Greek Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  12. ↑ "Get Him to the Greek (2010): Reviews". CBS. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  13. ↑ Roger Ebert. "Ebert reviews Get Him to the Greek". Chicago Sun Times.
  14. ↑ ""Shrek" laughs its way past two new comedies". yahoo.com. 2010-06-06. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  15. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1805463
  16. ↑ "Infant Sorrow Get Him to the Greek OST". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  17. ↑ Harding, Cortney (June 11, 2010). "Russell Brand Is A Man of Infant Sorrow". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 16, 2013.

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