There is a .gif I often use from Get Him to the Greek (2010) that features Jonah Hill as record company employee Aaron Green freaking out over a song.  I typically employ it when trying to convey my excitement for something, though I have not seen the actual movie in over a decade.  Having rewatched it, I am here to tell you that it is yet another example of a movie that you view one way at one point in your life, and differently at a later stage.  I probably laughed at it more when I was younger, though there were still two moments that got a genuine chuckle out of me.  What I would like you to focus on, instead of any potential comedy (which is difficult to describe anyway), is how it speaks to worrying trends in today’s society and why it is best to stay away from them.

Before it is time to Get Him to the Greek, the “him” being rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), his career is ruined by releasing an album titled “African Child.”  All you need to know about this fictional record are the fictional headlines, like how it is described as the worst thing to happen to Africa since apartheid.  Next, we meet the person who will fulfill the title, that being Aaron.  He lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Dr. Daphne Binks (Elisabeth Moss), who is in the process of finishing her clinicals.  Unfortunately, this means she has crazy hours that make for the two of them having opposite schedules and not being able to see much of each other.  When she comes home one day, he wants to go to a concert, but all she wants to do is sleep.  As for his place of employment, the executive of the company for which he works, Sergio Roma (Sean Combs), is looking for fresh ideas to save the dying music industry.  Upon hearing a number of uninspiring thoughts from his staff, Sergio turns to Aarom.  Aaron suggests that they bring Aldous to the Greek Theater for a ten year anniversary show of the concert that launched his career.  Sergio is skeptical until Aaron walks into Sergio’s office one day and sees his boss looking at footage of Aldous on stage.  Sergio informs Aaron that they have decided to move ahead with the show idea, and that Aaron is the one who will be responsible for bringing the musician to the venue.  In Aaron’s excitement, he goes to the hospital where Dr. Binks is on duty and gives his girlfriend the news.  She has an update of her own, namely that she had been given the opportunity to have residency at a facility in Seattle.  Despite her following this up by underscoring the beneficial hours and the ability to see each other regularly, he feels like she had been making plans for their future without his consent.  Further, he does not want to leave Los Angeles because this is where he thinks he can best advance his career.  Tensions rise with this impasse to the point that she says they should break up.  On this development, Aaron departs for London.  He is nervous when he arrives, not just because he wants to do a good job (especially after Sergio gives Aaron a number of stern warnings), but because Aaron is a fan of Aldous’ music.  What Aaron encounters when he finally meets Aldous is a drug addicted musician whose only concern is to have a good time and stay intoxicated.  To this end, instead of going to the airport to make their flight to New York where Aldous is set to perform on the Today show (1952-present), he has them go out on the town to party.  Because Sergio had told Aaron to let Aldous indulge, while also keeping things under control, Aaron must walk a confusing line that has him acquiescing to nearly all of Aldous’ whims.  This includes Aaron being talked into having sex with a random girl at a bar. As a result, they miss several flights until they finally manage to leave the next morning.  On the way to the television set, Aaron tries to exert some control by drinking all of Aldous’ liquor and smoking his marijuana.  Doing so renders Aaron incapable of being much help, including when Aldous cannot remember the lyrics to “African Child” when it comes time to perform.  Following the appearance, it is a repeat of the night in London, though this time Aaron fields a call from Dr. Binks in which she apologizes for her behavior.  A slightly addled Aaron all but admits to his infidelities, thus worsening their relationship.  The next day, though making it to the airport on time, Aaron is forced to be Aldous’ drug mule.  Aldous also alters their travel plans, suddenly wanting to visit his estranged father, Jonathan Snow (Colm Meaney), in Las Vegas.  While the encounter humanizes Aldous somewhat for how awful is Jonathan, it turns out to be yet another terrible night.  This time they are chased out of the city by a high Sergio, who had come to Sin City to intervene in what appears to be a situation spiraling out of control.  Once in Los Angeles, Aaron attempts a sincere apology with Dr. Binks, only to be interrupted by Aldous.  Aldous’ solution for their domestic troubles is for them to have a threesome.  Because she is still angry, she agrees and Aaron once more goes along with it.  When Aaron has finally had enough, he kisses Aldous and Dr. Binks realizes she had been behaving rashly before having to rush off to work.  Aldous leaves, too, and Aaron tries to forget about the rock n’ roller until he gets a phone message saying that Aldous is about to jump off a building. Aaron gets there into to see Aldous fall into a pool and break his arm.  Still, Aldous emerges from the pool apologetic, and wanting to perform.  Despite a bone sticking out of his arm, Aldous goes on at Sergio’s insistence.  This is what ultimately convinces Aaron to quit, and he returns to bed with Dr. Binks and they sleep for fourteen hours.  Six months later, a sober Aldous is giving another concert with Aaron as his new manager, and this is when the film ends.

One aspect of Get Him to the Greek I left out is Aldous’ relationship with fellow musician Jackie Q (Rose Byrne).  It has all the stereotypes you might expect for such a couple, including feigned monogamy and sobriety, as well as the inevitable break up.  They seem to remain friends, though she later admits that the child she once claimed was his she actually had by a different father.  Between this and what I described in the synopsis, you can see where anyone, regardless of their fame, might be driven to alcohol and drugs.  This is all pretty awful stuff, but there is an interesting Catholic angle to it that is not discussed in the movie.  Though the actor who plays Aldous, Russell Brand, is a teetotaler (with alcohol, though he has used drugs), there are some parallels to his real life.  In recent years, it is come to light that the former Buddhist is a sex addict, and he has been accused of sexual misconduct.  Given the former condition, the latter act would probably not be surprising.  What might surprise you to know is that Brand has been moving towards Christianity.  In the last few years, he had begun saying the Rosary daily and integrating Lenten disciplines during that time of the year.  This culminated last April with his Baptism.  There needs to be some caveats mentioned.  For starters, he has long been a vaguely spiritual person.  There are those who like to experience all the religions, and end up being a kind of spiritual jack of all trades and a master of none.  I submit that being such a person means nothing.  Further, his Baptism took place in the Thames, which is not in keeping with Catholic teaching.  Still, his current wife is Catholic, and it is the only Christian sect that prays the Rosary.  My point with all this is to say that Faith is the solution to sexual or substance abuse.  God is a central part of twelve step programs designed to combat addiction.  Getting to Him starts with admitting that you need help, and that you are not in control.  Though Aldous does not talk about God, he does get to the point where he tells Aaron that he is lost.  That is the starting point for something better.  It is not perfect, but it is something.

With movies like Get Him to the Greek, if forced to watch it as a serious Christian, you have to latch onto that something.  Too often, our society says it is okay to party like you see in the movie, even if the main characters eventually see the errors of their ways.  Because of all that objectionable material, it is not worth seeing this one.  What I wrote about Russell Brand will hopefully just be a useful footnote.