6/10
A couple of years ago, Russell Brand was thrown off the BBC for being naughty on the radio, and pundits suggested his career was dead. Today, he's a Hollywood film star. What do pundits know?
Aldous Snow was a minor character in a unmemorable film called Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008. But, as played by Brand, he injected much-needed energy into a somewhat flaccid film. Somebody somewhere had the bright idea of giving the character a film of his own.
The movie starts with a string of clips of the career of Snow, a rock star dedicated to a life of self-abuse, vanity, pretensiousness, and - recently - failure. Meanwhile, eager young record executive Aaron (Jonah Hill) comes up with the notion of getting Snow to play the Greek (an LA venue) on the 10th anniversary of a triumphant concert there. Which means Aaron has to go to London, collect the sozzled reprobate and bring him back to the States in one, preferably sober, piece.
You can see how this could be difficult. Chubby young man who has just split with his girlfriend and idolises rock star up against wily, drug-dependent and chemically manipulative said rock star. Who's gonna come out on top? Actually, since this is Hollywood, they both do, but not before they charge around in London, New York, Las Vegas and, eventually LA, causing mayhem wherever they go. It's like a foul-mouthed version of My Favourite Year with Brand in the O'Toole role. But since this is 2010, there is a lot of talk about sex, drugs and bodily functions. Fortunately, it is more often than not funny.
Also, and crucially, there is a sweet natured quality underlying all the tough guy stuff, and a romantic, borderline sentimental undertow, which helps makes the characters more likeable than not. Towards the end, things look as if they may be lurching dangerously towards seriousness, but that awful fate is avoided. On the whole, this is going to appeal to a) a younger audience and b) an older audience with the sense of humour of a 14 year old. I guess that must be me.
