In 2008 Nicholas Stoller made his directorial debut with the rom-com Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Ironically enough, the only thing it will probably be remembered for – by the female population at least – is for being dandy Russell Brand’s first big role in a major Hollywood release.

Not intent with merely looking a gift horse in the mouth, Stoller has clearly shoved his tongue down the back of said horse’s throat and frenched the hell out of it, by making a spin-off flick completely devoted to Brand’s character Aldous Snow.

Snow (Brand) is the archetypal rock star. He’s the sexy front man for his band Infant Sorrow, and clearly enjoys all the usual trappings of the job; you know, the whole sex and drugs thing. He thought he met the love of his life in fellow singing sensation Jackie Q (Rosie Byrne); so much so that he went on the wagon for her for seven years. However things come to a head between the pair whilst Snow promotes his latest adventure in music “African Child”. Unfortunately for Snow, the single bombs, which self-destructs both his relationship and career.

Meanwhile, Aaron (Jonah Hill), a lowly talent scout for Pinnacle Records, suggests to his boss Sergio (Sean Combs) that a gig at LA’s Greek Theatre, where Snow triumphed ten years earlier, would make the perfect venue for an anniversary gig for Snow. Sergio agrees and puts Aaron in charge of looking after Snow until the gig happens.

Aaron is initially jubilant at the idea of working with one of his musical heroes. What he doesn’t count on however, is coping with Snow’s drug and alcohol dependency issues that have resurfaced from Jackie Q giving him the elbow for being a bit of a drug-free dullard.

Aaron has a matter of days to get Snow from London to New York for a TV interview, and then onto the gig itself. But with Snow looking to rekindle his relationship with booze and drugs, Aaron has a sneaky suspicion that he’s not in for an easy ride in the next 72 hours.

Oh shit, look at that, our careers are gonna crash!

So, there you have it: a road movie. Not only would it be lazy to also call it a buddy movie, but also inaccurate. Initially at least, Brand and Hill show early promise of a heartfelt relationship developing between the pair. But as the story progresses, there’s never any real spark between the two leads. In fact it feels more competitive than supportive; Brand dishes up his one-liner and Hill counters. With no bond between the two, it makes it even more difficult for an audience to care for either one of them.

Brand does little wrong, but in a role that’s virtually semi-biographical, that’s not really saying much. Hill has got the cuddly geek thing down to a tee, but loses any sympathy you might have for him when he cheats on his hard-working girlfriend Daphne, played by Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss.

Sean Combs – the P Diddy himself – certainly doesn’t do his adventures in acting any harm as the tough record label boss. And when you finally recognise Rosie Byrne (Damages), you’ll be blown away by not only the fact that she can crack a smile and look good not wearing a suit, but that it appears she can also turn her hand to comedy pretty well.

There are some laughs to be had along the way, but unfortunately the film thinks it’s far funnier than it really is. It gets a little too cute with music industry in-jokes and cameos, and really pads the plot out when it tries to flesh out Snow’s family history, including a pointless encounter with his Dad (Colm Meaney) in Las Vegas. You can tell this is a desperate attempt to inject some heart, but all you get at the end of it is more drug and booze gags.

Despite being produced by Judd Apatow, this is a million miles away from his earlier hit Superbad. Sadly it’s yet another Apatow-comedy-by-numbers production, which is predictable and soulless in equal measures. Brand’s Snow didn’t rock our world the first time around and this solo tour certainly hasn’t changed our minds. Let’s just pray he won’t be making a comeback anytime soon.