‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ is Full of Bold Humor,
Most of Which Works
-----The now infamous Judd Apatow continues his streak of crude humor about boys who never grew up in modern society. The movie is neither classic nor dull, and actually provides a lot of laughs thanks to an energetic cast that develop a fun chemistry.Most of Which Works
-----When loser Peter Bretter (Jason Segel)’s amazingly fine TV sensation girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) breaks up with him, he becomes an even bigger loser. In a desperate attempt to forget the girl who broke his heart, he takes a vacation to Hawaii. For the sake of the story, Sarah happens to be vacationing at the same resort, and she’s brought her new boyfriend, English rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), with her. Just when Peter seems ready to burst, he meets the hotel’s clerk, the gorgeous and kind Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis).
-----Jason Segel is excellent at playing a somewhat lovable loser with the emotional spectrum of a PMS-ing drama student. He adequately leads the film, along with the talents of the beautiful Mila Kunis as the understanding and adventurous local named Rachel. Kristen Bell finds a nice chemistry with the rest of the cast as the girl you don’t like, who then suddenly pulls U-turn and you begin to sympathize with her…a little bit. However, the one man who really brings this film into the realm of passable entertainment is the always hilarious Russell Brand. His comedic timing and overall laid back flair inspire many of the film’s funnier scenes. His efforts save this film from being as, “forgettable” as the title would suggest.
-----There isn’t much to say about the technicalities of the film. The music works, but the film relies mostly on the exotic beaches of Hawaii for cinematographic value and mood setting. That being said, you can tell the cast had some fun, and you’ll probably enjoy their chemistry and wit too, as long as you aren’t overly offended by the nudity or raunchiness.
-----The film prevails due to a witty script executed to perfection by the leads. While some of the raunchiness is downright unnecessary and maybe even disturbing for some of the male viewers, the film’s heart and integrity are what stick with you. There are even a number of funny cameos, and while some of the jokes try a bit too hard, this will provide ample entertainment for the bold movie-goer. It isn’t worth too many viewings, and one will satisfy the majority of casual viewers who are neutral or casual in their opinion of Apatow comedies.
