Get Him to the Greek Blu-ray Review

"Get Him to the Greek" makes a stellar debut on Blu-ray with an AVC-encoded 1080p resolution framed in a theatrically accurate 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The presentation radiates excellent sharpness, with striking detail that captures the sheer tactile quality of clothing and other textures. Fine detail handling is particularly commendable, enhancing the 3D pop effect that Blu-ray enthusiasts desire. The color palette is neutral to warm, maintaining a balance where primaries are vivid yet not oversaturated. Skin tones are generally accurate but exhibit slight variances during reshoot segments.

The visual acuity is consistently strong throughout, rendering subtle details with clarity. Shadows and black levels offer decent depth, providing sufficient discernable texture in low-lit scenes, although darker sequences occasionally suffer from a lack of strong contrast. This sometimes results in dark costumes blending into the background, diminishing the visual separation. Minor shimmering issues occur with tightly patterned textiles and some props, noticeable in certain scenes such as Aldous' knit cap in the airport.

Concert scenes are a visual treat, with vibrant lights and dynamic movements captured without artifacting. Despite occasional minor issues, such as momentary aliasing and reduced contrast in darker segments, the overall image quality is highly pleasing. The transfer remains clean and free of dirt or specks, ensuring an engaging and immersive viewing experience that holds up well under scrutiny. Overall, this Blu-ray release offers a near-reference quality presentation that admirably reproduces the original film's experience.

The Blu-ray of "Get Him to the Greek" offers an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in English, French, and Spanish. The lossless English version is particularly noteworthy. The film, driven by music and dialogue, excels in these areas. The dialogue is crystal clear, maintaining its clarity even during the frequent transitions from quiet moments to raucous ones, ensuring that every line is intelligible. The music, including both the soundtrack and Aldous Snow's fictional band Infant Sorrow, is rendered with precision, delivering a dynamic and rich auditory experience. Although a touch more high frequency could enhance the sound further, the LFE effectively supports the overall mix.

The surround sound design amplifies the film's immersive quality. Although the film doesn't demand extensive use of flashy surround effects, when required, such as in crowd scenes or specific set-pieces like the Today Show set or Las Vegas sequences, the soundscape becomes convincingly vibrant. These scenes feature well-placed directional audio that heightens the believability of the environment. While certain quieter conversations, particularly those over the phone, occasionally lack clarity and leave dialogue slightly muffled, this minor shortcoming does not significantly detract from the otherwise robust audio performance.

Overall, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix offers a commendable audio presentation that skillfully supports both the dialogue-driven humor and the film’s musical moments, providing an engaging auditory experience well-suited to the film's requirements.

The Blu-ray extras for "Get Him to the Greek" are a treasure trove, offering comprehensive insight and delightful entertainment. Without compromising technical nuances, Universal has meticulously curated a vast array of bonus content. This includes two versions of the film, an engaging feature commentary by director Nicholas Stoller and key cast members, and three in-depth documentaries that highlight the filmmaking process and musical elements. Further, fans are treated to an array of music videos, a karaoke section, and interactive U-Control. On the DVD, additional materials such as gag reels, line-o-rama, alternate scenes, and faux TV segments ensure there is something for everyone. Digital copy and BD-Live access extend accessibility.

Extras included in this disc:

• Feature Commentary: Director Nicholas Stoller and cast.
• Getting to Get Him to the Greek: Behind-the-scenes documentary.
• Getting in Tune with the Greek: Focus on music creation.
• The Making of African Child: Faux behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Music Videos: Several complete performances from the film.
• Karaoke: 15 selections with lyrics.
• Gag Reel: Outtakes and bloopers.
• Line-O-Rama: Actor improvisations.
• Alternate Intro: The Castle: Original opening scene.
• Alternate Ending: Riding Daphne: Original ending.
• Deleted Scenes: 17 scenes cut from the final edit.
• Extended and Alternate Scenes: 22 scenes with more content.
• Blind Medicine: Scenes from Sarah Marshall's TV show.
• Interviews: Four faux TV interviews.
• Auditions: Screen tests of key actors.

"Get Him to the Greek" serves as a robust showcase of Russell Brand's comedic prowess, bringing to life the debauched rock star Aldous Snow in this riotous spin-off from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." The narrative is a high-octane romp through music industry shenanigans, driven by Jonah Hill's nuanced portrayal of record company executive Aaron Green, tasked with escorting the erratic Snow from London to Los Angeles for a critical concert. The film oscillates between outrageous physical comedy and surprisingly heartfelt moments, balancing crude humor with clever, throwaway lines that elevate it beyond typical R-rated comedy fare.

Brand’s Aldous Snow is an exhilarating creation—endearing yet wildly unpredictable, crafting a compelling dynamic with Hill's earnest Aaron Green. Sean Combs delivers a standout performance as the volatile record label boss, Sergio Roma, injecting further energy into this chaotic buddy-movie adventure. Stoller successfully interweaves episodic sequences filled with brilliant comedic gems—from an absurd m�nage a trois involving Elisabeth Moss to a surreal Today Show segment featuring Paul Krugman—as both Hill and Brand masterfully navigate their characters through hilariously precarious situations.

While the plot may seem thin, focusing largely on Aaron’s quest to revive Snow’s career, it effectively anchors the character-driven narrative. The film’s strength lies in its character development and the genuine rapport between Brand and Hill, whose chemistry brings an unexpected depth to their roles. "Get Him to the Greek" is unabashedly bawdy yet smarter than its lewd exterior suggests. The dialogue peppers in wit and intelligence amidst the chaos, ensuring the audience remains as invested in the characters' emotional arcs as they are in the relentless humor. By blending raunchy antics with heart-felt moments, "Get Him to the Greek" offers a fresh take on the rock-star comedy genre.

"Get Him to the Greek" on Blu-ray delivers a highly engaging and unexpectedly amusing comedic experience. Despite initial expectations of a formulaic and limited comedy, this film surprises with continuous big laughs that smoothly blend crude humor with genuine life reflections. The chemistry between Russell Brand and Jonah Hill is compelling, and their performances, along with a standout supporting cast, drive the narrative forward with energy and charm. The presence of P. Diddy adds an unexpected layer of entertainment, as his acting prowess contributes to the overall hilarity.

Technically, the Blu-ray excels in every department. The video quality is outstanding for a comedy, providing vibrant visuals that capture the essence of the film's outrageous and wild scenes. Audio-wise, the soundtrack is meticulously crafted, with concert scenes achieving an immersive experience that aptly mirrors live performances. The disc also impresses with its vast array of bonus materials, including featurettes, music videos not included in the film, and a light-hearted commentary which collectively extend the entertainment value well beyond the main feature.

The region-free disc comes with the holy trinity of great visuals, audio, and bonus material. The latter in particular bombards viewers with hours of featurettes and music videos, plus a good light-hearted commentary. As a film, it never deviates from its target market or attempts to break the mold, but given its high laugh quotient, why should it? While it has pacing issues and some flat moments, if drunken, drug-fueled vomit-covered shenanigans and a disembodied P. Diddy head sound appealing, then this is certainly worth a watch.