The Chronicle

Laurie Torres
Staff Writer

Summer may be over, but a demand lingers entertainment among CLC students. Whether you saw all of the summer blockbusters opening night or feel as if you missed out on prime summer box office entertainment, never fear the summer comedy recap is here!

“Get Him to the Greek” was the riproaring comedy of the summer. Part mockumentary, part epic the film’s premise is solid – who doesn’t like getting into the nitty gritty world of music production and showbiz?
Russel Brand shines as Aldous Snow, the talented rocker turned has-been primed for a comeback. At times his motives are questionable but his flair for comedic antics and knack for chaos are undeniable and makes for a good laugh.

At the center of the hilarity is the protagonist, Aaron Green, played by the awkward but loveable Jonah Hill. All he wants is to get his idol back into the spotlight and balance his professional ambitions with his personal life.

Motivating and pressing Hill not to fail is Sergio Roma, Hill’s ruthlessly diabolical boss portrayed by a startlingly maniacal Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.

Stunning cast aside, the film features a spectacular soundtrack that includes Aldous Snow’s numerous hits and the notorious flop “African Child”. The music definitely adds to the mockumentary feel of the movie.

“Greek” is not simply a film aiming for cheap laughs underneath the goofy, and at times shocking, moments, it is a smart and touching film. It explores, and perhaps pokes fun at, the ideas of love and sex, the importance of fame and fortune and how people choose what makes them happy in the end it’s all wrapped up in a nice neat package of comedy.

“The Other Guys” was another comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, the slapstick comedy and stunts delivered a handful of laughter, but unfortunately the movie dragged. The central mystery feels more like an afterthought.

Wahlberg’s character as police officer Terry Hoitz is not quite as convincing as it could be, mostly because  the audience spends most of the time trying to figure out exactly what his character is. It’s understood that he’s a cop who feels underappreciated and that he’s capable of more responsibility than the force hands him, but his constant rage remains unfounded.

Meanwhile Ferrell’s character is clearly defined, though not offering much depth. He is the basic by-the-books cop with a bad boy past.

In an attempt to convey a meaningful message about the economy and how hard the average American and “other guys” work, the movie features daunting facts about ponzi schemes and how much CEOs make compared to the rest of us.

“Twilight” haters rejoiced this summer as the satirical “Vampires Suck “made its box office debut. Following suit with other spoofs like the “Scary Movie” series, the film pokes fun at the ridiculous plot of “Twilight”, its melodramatic characters, crazed mega-fans and Taylor Lautner’s inability to keep his shirt on for more than 10 seconds of screentime. 

Sad to say, “Vampires Suck” was not as satisfying a punch to the proverbial face of the “Twilight” phenomenon, but it was still good for a few cheap laughs.

All in all, the summer pool of comedies could’ve been better, but it wasn’t all bad. As DVD rentals, they are worth the time and money. As actual movies shown in theaters, money was better spent elsewhere.