June 10, 2010 -- Judd Apatow, modern day master of the vulgar comedy, has another entry in the summer sweepstakes this year, but unlike most Apatow films, it doesn't quite hit the mark. This time Apatow is the film's producer, not the writer and not the director. The film is a bit darker and less sweet than most Apatow films, but there is plenty of gross bodily function humor (like vomit jokes) and sex humor to satisfy some of Apatow's regular customers. Unfortunately, the film's main characters aren't very cuddly. Rather, they are sad, frustrated and unable to freely enjoy life.

The film's two main characters, record company administrative assistant Aaron Green (played by Jonah Hill of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) and out-of-control rock star Aldous Snow (played by Russell Brand of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” where he played the same character). Spend several days together which are predictably filled with partying, drinking, drug use and indiscriminate sex. Green's job is to make sure Snow makes it to a sold-out concert date at L.A.'s Greek Theater. For Green, this is do or die. If he fails, he looses his job. If he succeeds, he might well be promoted. It would be a feather in his career cap. For Snow, the Greek concert could revive his sagging career, but he acts like he doesn't care whether he gets there or not. This is entirely predictable, given Snow's reputation and Green's inexperience. This begs the question of why Green was given this near-impossible job in the first place.

Further complicating matters is the near breakup of Green with his girlfriend, Daphne Binks (Elisabeth Moss of the “Mad Men” TV series). Snow is having a mid-life crisis which prompts him to try to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend and his estranged father (played by Colm Meany of “The Committments”). These entanglements cause side trips which are not on the itinerary. Green, who is a big fan of Snow's, sees that Snow has fame and fortune, but is emotionally empty because he lacks friends and family. Green realizes he needs to make up with Daphne because she is the most important thing in his life. This reconciliation is jeopardized by Snow, who pops in unannounced and nearly ruins things in a scene which is very uncomfortable, unconvincing and poorly handled.

The problems with the plot are multiple. None of the main characters, Snow, Green and Daphne are particularly likeable. Snow has a definite mean streak, shown when he forces Green into a humiliating and illegal act of drug smuggling. None of them have much substance or wisdom to impart. Snow and Green, in particular, seem like very sad, insecure people. Part of this is due to Jonah Hill's weight problem, which is becoming a serious medical condition, along with his beard stubble, which isn't working for him. This contributes to his insecurity with his girlfriend, who is clearly out of his league. Snow, while charming at times, seems to have no center. He plays different emotional angles in order to manipulate others, but there seems to be no real person under the surface. As a character, he is only slightly less menacing and amoral than the evil, manipulative character Chad of “In the Company of Men.”

This movie tries, but fails to evoke the charm and wit of another film with the same general storyline, the 1982 film “My Favorite Year.” In that film, the great Peter O'Toole played the Snow character, while Mark Linn-Baker played the Green character. The big difference between these two movies is the likeability and charm of these characters, qualities largely missing in “Get Him to the Greek.” Another difference is that Snow character (O'Toole) never tries to be anything other than himself. He makes no apologies for what he is, and he isn't all that bad anyway. Contrast this to the chameleon-like character played by Russell Brand, who is so terribly uncomfortable with who he really is. I felt sorry for most of the characters, except for record company executive Sergio Roma, played by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, who was priceless. Combs, the only breath of fresh air in the film, is the only guy in the whole movie who is in on the joke, or who even seems to know what the joke is. The gleefully Machiavellian Roma character nearly pulls the movie out of the wallows of predictability and phony sentiment. This film rates a C+.

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