British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) is to sing at a live concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, ten years after his memorable show there. This idea was conceived by Aaron Green (Jonah Hill), an ambitious employee of a top music industry’s record company, as an effort to make major earnings. When Aaron’s boss sends him to London to escort Aldous to to the concert, a series of unexpected events take place, which reveal that life with stars is more difficult than it seems.
From Sarah Marshall to Aldous Snow
The character of Aldous Snow was initially created for 2008’s film Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Director Nicholas Stoller suggested that a spin-off based on Aldous’ character could be very funny. Jonah Hill also took part in the first film and his scenes with Russel Brand inspired the idea of a film that included both actors. Hill did not reprise his role but acted out a new role which was more fitting to the film’s story, one about the craziness of the music industry.
Aldous’ character is based on various leading British rock stars of the last 30 years. He plays a rock star who is idolized by music fans and has failed to manage his success by giving into drug and alcohol abuse and becoming obsessed by sex. The film is full of inside jokes and references to British rock stars, and successfully describes why they are so loved by fans and so hated by the music industry’s executives, in spite of the financial gain they represent to them. At the beginning of the film Aaron is a dedicated fan of Aldous’ music but after three days of living with him he becomes disillusioned and regrets his devotion.
Music Industry's Rediculation
Apart from the two basic characters, the film contains a series of cameos by well known stars of the music and TV industry, adding a more realistic tone to the story. Adding to the film’s appeal, P.Diddy is perfect as the demanding and intense head of record company, a role deeply inspired by Tom Cruise’s similar appearance in Tropic Thunder. Even in the last part of the film where the film’s mad style is replaced by more sentimental themes about human relationships, humor is never missing.
The film easily proves the domination of Jude Apatow’s productions in modern American comedy. It keeps the basic elements of previous successful works, like eccentric characters, larger than life situations and clever humorous lines. Moreover it mocks the personal lives of stars and proves that a life full of parties, drugs and sex isn’t as dreamy as it may appear in tabloid magazines.
Tasos Melemenidis - Watching and reading frantically about cinema as a teenager, had a major impact on my studies in IT. This was a negative impact as far as ...
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