Movie Review

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R)

Pete Hammond

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Hollywood.com Says
Although it contains plenty of producer Judd Apatow’s signature raunch, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a comedy to remember, a wryly funny, smartly written and acted story from the (broken) heart.

Story
Writer and star Jason Segel concocted this romantic comedy from an experience in his own life. It is a moment recreated right at the top of the film when TV and frustrated puppet theatre composer Peter Bretter (Segel) stands naked, physically and emotionally, as his TV-series star girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) dumps him for another guy. Not being able to deal with the sudden rejection and unable to perform properly at his job, he decides to take the Hawaiian vacation he and his now-ex never got around to. Unfortunately, she coincidentally has the same idea and with her English rocker new boyfriend (Russell Brand) in tow and winds up in the exact same resort with poor pitiful Peter. In a tactic designed to prove Sarah made a huge mistake, he manages to hook up with the hotel’s pretty and sympathetic concierge (Mila Kunis)--signing up for “activities” she is unlikely to suggest to any other guest. With the Hawaiian paradise as the perfect backdrop, the film turns into a classic battle of the sexes as Peter attempts to put the pieces of his shattered heart back together.

Acting
One of the original regulars of producer Judd Apatow’s short-lived NBC series Freeks and Geeks and now co-star of How I Met Your Mother, Jason Segel smartly breaks out of the supporting TV mode and proves his worth as a fine comic movie lead in his sharply observed script, inspired by an incident that happened in his own life. Sure to be much discussed and dissected, the hilarious opening scenes in which he boldly goes for laughs displaying his full frontal manhood signals him as a screen actor unafraid to let it all hang out there. That’s just perfect for a character who pretty much wears his vulnerability on his sleeve (when he has one on). As a screenwriter, he has also given his co-stars choice roles to run with as well. Bell, as the vapid TV actress takes what could have been a one-dimensional role and shapes her Sarah Marshall into a believable human being who finally hits a wall in her longtime relationship. Kunis (TV's That '70s Show) is an enormously appealing and warm screen presence and Brand, as the loopy rocker steals every scene he’s in with one of the year’s most indelible comic creations. As usual, some of Apatow’s stable of regulars turn up here as well with standout bits from Knocked Up and 40 Year-Old Virgin’s Paul Rudd, as a loony surf instructor and Superbad’s Jonah Hill as the fanboy restaurant host.

Direction
Debuting feature director Nicholas Stoller got some early experience on Apatow’s underappreciated series, Undeclared and does a nice job here bringing Segel’s creation to the screen. A mark of a good director is good performances, and there isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Not too shabby for a first timer. His achievement, however, is clearly overwhelmed by the imposing shadow of producer Apatow and his star/writer. It’s their show, but Stoller goes light on stylistic touches and doesn’t screw it up, seamlessly letting the actors, the terrific script and the scenery do all the heavy lifting making this Sarah Marshall hard to forget indeed.

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