Constant chuckling and the occasional belly laugh are on offer.

Rating: 6/10 (2 July 2010)

Russell Brand is charismatic. No two ways about it. He oozes an effortless charm that sucks you in whether you like it or not. Which is lucky, because his Aldous Snow is completely unlikeable for the most part and is only palatable thanks to Brand's aforementioned qualities. His nonchalant approach towards what other people think and his egotistical attitude – in real life that is – suits the portrayal of a rock star perfectly, to the extent that it's extremely difficult to ascertain whether this is life imitating art or vice-versa, such are the similarities between actor and character.
However for Brand's ying there is Jonah Hill's yang. Polar opposites in just about every way, Hill provides the ideal counterbalance to the brash British comedian. He is subdued, straight-faced and subtle – the adrenaline shot sequence being an exception – but just as funny, if not more. Where Brand relies on outspoken brazenness for laughs, the chubby American elicits humour with measured wit and authentic comic timing, as evidenced by his superb comebacks throughout the film.
With the brilliant chemistry between its differing leads and the surprisingly terrific support by the usually dramatic co-stars – Combs is hilarious whilst Byrne and Meaney are in roles you would never expect to see them in – you would think GHTTG is a sure-fire hit, and it looks that way for the first 75 minutes. Unfortunately it begins to fall to pieces come the final act when writer-director Stoller opts to take a serious route and deliver a clichéd moral point rather than sticking with the unabashed entertainment of the first two acts. This serious misstep in tone finishes the movie on a low and undoes some of the good work that proceeded it, though not enough to dampen the overall experience.
Constant chuckling and the occasional belly laugh are on offer in this solid, if ultimately forgettable, comedy.
3 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)