Get Him To The Greek & Shrek Forever After Posted by Matt Smith 23 June, 2010 - 1:47 PM

Get Him To The Greek

Starring Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Rose Byrne.

Aldous Snow is a washed up rock star in dire need of a career boost. Aaron Green is a record company intern looking for an opportunity to kick start his career. When Aaron floats the idea of a 10 year anniversary concert of Snows’ most successful era, they both may find their careers heading in the right direction. However, getting drug and alcohol addicted, sex crazed, Snow to Los Angeles’ famous Greek Theatre may be much easier said than done.

The film starts off with a hilarious film clip of Aldous Snows’ low point of his career, the truly terrible ‘African Child’. Amongst scenes of war and famine Snow and his then girlfriend Jackie Q gyrate semi naked whilst delivering some of the most politically incorrect lyrics you will ever hear. It is an over the top example of why rock stars should stick to what they know and it perfectly sets the tone of what the film is going to offer. If this first scene offends you, it could be worth racing out of the cinema seeking a refund immediately.

‘Get Him to the Greek’ is less a film and more of a showcase for the talents of the main stars. Russell Brand is terrific as the addiction prone rock star, in a role which he no doubt used his own personal experiences as inspiration. Jonah Hill is perfectly cast as record company intern Aaron, in a role that sees him a little less potty mouthed than usual although still the subject of some of the films most disturbing moments. Australia’s own Rose Byrne is sensational as Jackie Q, who looks like a gorgeous super model but acts like Amy Winehouse.

Somewhere amongst the drug and alcohol crazed benders, sexual encounters and the race to get to the Greek Theatre on time, there is some sort of moral lesson to be learnt. If you can stop laughing for a few moments you might actually discover what it is. I certainly didn’t and I doubt too many others will.

‘Get Him to the Greek’ is not for the faint hearted, but it is a hell of a lot of fun and so far 2010’s funniest film.

Four out of Five Stars.

Shrek Forever After

Voices by Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas.  

The once terrifying, now lovable green ogre Shrek is having a mid life crisis of sorts. When he does a deal with the evil Rumpelstiltskin his life is erased and all those that he, and we, have grown to love do not know who he is. His journey of rediscovery gives us all an opportunity to be reunited with Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots.

After the train wreck that was the third Shrek film, this latest instalment is a return to form. Peppered with pop culture references and new ways of looking at old fairy tales there is enough to remind us why we liked the first films so much.

The new parallel universe/time travel story plot has enabled the producers to reinvent the franchise, although it comes at a cost. Such story lines can be difficult to follow at the best of times, but when your film is targeted at a young audience you run the risk of alienating the audience you have actually made the film for. With this in mind it may be worth wording the little ones up before you reach the cinema to avoid trying to explain it all once the film has started.

Despite this minor hiccup, there is plenty to like about ‘Shrek Forever After’. As always the animation is fantastic and made all the more impressive with the 3D treatment. There are also plenty of laughs for both young and old. In what is sure to be the last film in the franchise, the film is a nice way to say goodbye.

Three out of Five Stars.

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