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All Movie Info
Starring:
Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Kala Alexander, Gina Fricchione, Carla Gallo, Jonah Hill, Elizabeth Keener, Peter Lewis, Jack McBrayer, Davon McDonald, Paul Rudd, Maria Thayer, Caroline Timm, Ede Van Quathem, Kristen Wiig, June Diane Raphael, Tri Le, Shannon Garnett, Katherine VanderLinden, Channing Swift, Carla Alapont, Meggan Anderson, Meggan Anderson, Diane Baldwin, Kaleo Black, Tanisha Harper, Jean Huynh, Erik R. Norris, Kirsten Roeters, Brittany Ross, Liz Cackowski, Joy Gohring
Directed By:
Nicholas Stoller
Written By:
Jason Segel
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Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
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Movie Review by Jarrod 
April 23rd, 2008
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'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' is the best Apatow comedy since The 40-Year-Old Virgin. It is wildly and wickedly funny, relishing its R rating, but blessed with a gifted comic performance by Jason Segel, and a wonderful screenplay (written by Segel) that actually provides smarter and more finely tuned humor than many other recent genre efforts. It is the often the dialogue that is funny, working in tandem with the physical gags. Segel also does full frontal nudity, and this is consistent with Apatow's promise to have male genitalia in at least one shot in every one of his films after Walk Hard. The penis is a sadly neglected sex organ when it comes to cinematic exposure, one usually expects to see breasts or a bare ass, but throw a dick in the mix and controversy arises. Segel certainly made a bold decision; like Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises or Geoffrey Rush in Quills. Segel does it only for the shock value; but then it could also reflect Peter's vulnerability.
Segel plays Peter Bretter, a composer married to TV star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). One day, she dumps him and he is heartbroken. His brother Brian (Bill Hader) suggests that he take a vacation to try and forget about Sarah, and so Peter heads to Hawaii, only to find that he is sharing his hotel with Sarah and her boyfriend, a musician named Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). And he pretty much sees them everywhere. However, he also begins to forge a relationship with sweet hotel receptionist Racheal (Mila Kunis). On the surface, the film has a premise similar to that of The Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller, but is fortunately much, much better. The laughs are hearty and consistent, and while the movie certainly does try to hit below the belt at certain points, it never feels like it is desperate. Segel is a good leading man, charming and likable, and he clicks well with the beautiful, energetic Kunis. Kunis is given more attention than Bell, who surprisingly does not make Sarah a one-dimensional b*tch. And Brand is a hoot. Apatow regulars Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd show up for cameos. Hill is irritating, but I liked Rudd as a stoned surfer type. There is plenty of raunchiness, but it is never overdone, and the romantic stuff is engaging. So, yeah, this is a comedy that has both a brain and a heart, which has been true of most Apatow-produced features up until now. It is a winner.
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