Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

O Masterpiece
O Excellent
X Good
O OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / June 17, 2008

Jason Segel, the actor who plays Pete Bretter in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” claimed in a late-night-talk-show interview that a girl broke up with him once while he was naked, which is quite possibly the most vulnerable time to get dumped.

And since the best material is inspired by real life, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” opens with a birthday-suit breakup that includes full frontal male nudity. Some actors, like Jason Segel, take substantial risks. Pure bravery. And to think I used to be impressed with Christian Bale’s dangerously extreme weight-loss for “The Machinist” (2004).

But this is the kind of movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is. Yes, it’s the same funny, over-the-top smut as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005), “Knocked Up” (2007), and “Superbad” (2007); in short, another Judd Apatow production whose R-rating should not be taken lightly.

After being dismissed by his TV-actress girlfriend, Sarah (Kristen Bell), Peter takes his best friend’s advice and goes on a solo vacation to Hawaii. Unfortunately, Sarah is also vacationing at the same resort with her British, rock-star, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Snow is one of the movie’s funniest characters. And after seeing Peter mope around for a few days, we get to see him begin to emerge from the breakup, “discover” himself, make new friends, and even meet a new, hip gal named Rachel (Mila Kunis).

There is an overall good feeling to “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” It has that zesty invigoration of a fun vacation, which is a credit to director Nicholas Stoller, because that’s exactly what he was supposed to depict. The inevitable run-ins between the two couples are truly entertaining. Sometimes the social awkwardness makes you squirm a little in your seat, but it’s always funny.

And in addition to the naked breakup scene, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” has one other refreshingly original idea that I’ve never seen in a movie before, and probably never will again: a Dracula puppet rock opera. Nice.

In the end, I suspect most people will love this movie, that is, if they go in already aware of its sexual content. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is essentially an edgy romantic comedy; it’s kind of like that deodorant called Secret: “Strong enough for a man [and] made for a woman.”

Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Jason Segel / Kristen Bell / Mila Kunis
Comedy / Romance 112 min.
MPAA: R (for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity)

U.S. Release Date: April 18, 2008
Copyright 2008: 283