Forgetting Sarah Marshall - quick review

Patrick Sun · 04-19-2008, 07:09 PM

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is the tale of boy meets girl, they date, and years down the line, girl leaves boy, boy becomes despondently sad and lonely. Peter (Jason Segel) is the boy, Sarah (Kristen Bell) is the girl. Sarah is famous because she's an actress on a TV show, and Peter scores the background music for the show. After Sarah leaves Peter, he is distraught, and does what he can to forget Sarah, but finds himself in Hawaii to get away from it all, but as fate would have it, Sarah is there vacationing with the guy she is now dating, a British rock star. Things just keep getting worse for Peter, but Rachel (played by Mila Kunis, who is empathetic to Peter's situation, and works at the resort both Peter and Sarah find themselves at) becomes someone who helps Peter get some perspective over the end of his long-term relationship with Sarah.

Peter was a real mess of a character in the beginning and I feared he'd stay too one-note in his despair, but Jason Segel's screenplay is smart enough to get Peter out of his morose malaise by the middle act of the film, and the film is full of small and big laughs brought on by rejection, and jealousy and re-discovery of love and purpose. Not only do the principle cast do a good job with the material, but the supporting cast around the resort are pretty funny when they get their chance to shine. Also Jack McBrayer (Kenneth on 30 Rock) is pretty funny when he's on-screen. I think the pacing of the film is pretty good once the story gets us to Hawaii, the first act is still a touch too long, but it's a minor quibble.

Just be warned, there might be a little too much male nudity for some, but it usually used for comic effect, or to show the vulnerability of the character.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.

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Cameron Yee · 04-20-2008, 01:11 AM

I'm glad to hear this is worth seeing.

Sam Favate · 04-20-2008, 11:55 AM

Definitely worth seeing; very funny. Nice to see Mila Kunis getting something to do (she has a significant role in the movie). That whole cast from That 70s Show had a lot of talent. Great musical numbers by Jason Segal.

Brett_M · 04-20-2008, 02:32 PM

I agree -- it's worth a look. It's about on par with The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up.

Craig S · 04-20-2008, 10:13 PM

I found it hilarious from start to finish. The whole cast fearlessly jumps into some pretty raunchy material, and as a result the laughs rarely flag. Yet Segal's script somehow keeps it all real with the underlying heart that is characteristic of the best material from the Apatow crew.

Biggest surprise of the show to me was Mila Kunis. She was cute as the self-centered Jackie on "That 70s Show", but I always thought she was a bit stiff (to be fair, she started the show at age 14). Here, she is completely natural & believeable as the sweet, fun-loving Rachel who finally brings Segal's Peter back to the world of the living (yes, my tongue was firmly in cheek writing that last sentence). Plus, she's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Hope this leads to more prominent roles for her.

9 out of 10 for me. Bring on The Pineapple Express!

Shad R · 04-21-2008, 04:41 AM

*** out of ****

This movie was as good as Knocked Up, but not as funny as Superbad. From start to finish, this movie had me laughing. This is one to see with an audience of like-minded people.
My favorite scenes were the absurd Hollywood lampooning. "CS:Crime Scene:Scene of the Crime" was brilliant! Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill have some funny moments as well. This was a great movie!

ChrisBEA · 04-21-2008, 06:38 AM

I really enjoyed this as well. Well written and acted, very funny.
3.5/5

Quentin · 04-21-2008, 12:06 PM

I'll hop on board. This is a smart, sweet, fun movie. Tons of laughs, Kunis is gorgeous, and Segal has an affinity and talent for music and puppetry!

Favorite flashback: YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!

Adam Sanchez · 04-21-2008, 12:16 PM

For whatever reason I didn't recognize Mila when I saw the movie, didn't know it was her till I came home and looked it up. Like Quentin said, she was gorgeous. That's probably the most perfect description of her in this movie.

Not to be overly dramatic but I can't think of when I've seen such a beautiful girl.

And I thought the movie was excellent, and very well done. There has been a lull of good movies in theaters lately, I hadn't been to one in over a month. I'm happy this was the movie that got me into theaters again.

Jose Martinez · 04-21-2008, 03:50 PM

I was reluctant to watch this movie because the trailers just didn't do it for me but when I heard of the positive reviews I'm glad I did. It is the smartest adult comedy I've seen in a long time. It was funny and it was touching. The characters were lovable. Not one character was annoying. I hope more people watch this as it deserves a good box office return.

AND YES, MILA KUNIS is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

TravisR · 04-26-2008, 03:04 PM

Just caught this and I enjoyed it alot.