Reviews With Music

This comedy, produced by Judd Apatow and written by Jason Segel, is one of those films that grows on you. And when I say “you”, I mean “me.” You see, it’s an amusing movie the first go-around, but upon repeated viewings…..it remains enjoyable while becoming both safe and familiar.. Kind of like an episode of Friends. You know exactly what to expect, and yet you’re still smiling because the jokes are so frequent. They originate from the reality of the characters and the situations that they find themselves in, so while the funny isn’t exactly HILARIOUS, it’s enough to make the film honest…and also keep it from fading into obscurity.

Which isn’t to say you’ve heard of the movie, because in all likeliness you haven’t (in which case I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out, and that you should netflix this film asap) For starters, forgetting Sarah Marshall has two hot poa’s….Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis….and they both look absolutely gorgeous in this movie. Kristen Bell, as Sarah Marshall, has a thankless role here. She seems to play the cold-hearted, indifferent, bint who breaks up with her boyfriend Peter (Jason Segel) because she’s grown tired of his affection and has moved on to greener pastures in the form of a British pop-phenomenon Aldous Snow (played with perfect self-obsessed zeal by Russell Brand). However, the film is smarter than to merely cast this woman as the unsympathetic villain . . .because we’re eventually treated to flashbacks of Peter and Sarah’s relationship, and Peter honestly had it coming. His lack of confidence, refusal to better himself, and hopeless laziness would cause any girl to flee to the arms of another lover…and so I was never fully against Sarah, no matter how selfish she acted throughout most of the film.

And while I love Jason Segel in most films, he’s a completely different character in this movie …(in that he has relative depth)…and thus, he’s harder to immediately like. He’s too hurt and, basically, HUMAN to enjoy as a character….that is until we get to know him, and our sympathy turns into genuine affection. And the turn in his character is brought on by Rachel (Mila Kunis), a hospitality rep who manages to bring Pete out of his misery and reintroduce him to himself while he’s on a vacation from his pain in Hawaii. Unfortunately, Sarah shows up with her new boyfriend and the two of them frequently bump into eachother, as they’re both staying at the same hotel. Needless to say, drama ensues….but at least it’s more amusing than awkward, and most of that can be attested to the sharp writing and effortless acting by all parties involved.

Then there’s the Dracula Rock Ballad, which really substantiates this comedy as unique and interesting. It’s wonderful stuff, both Pete singing his Dracula love song at the bar, and the puppet theater extravaganza which ends the film. I almost couldn’t believe something so cool was in a movie like this, it really feels like it belongs in another genre (or better yet, in REALITY ITSELF). But I’m just glad it’s there, cause it makes Forgetting Sarah Marshall a better than average romantic comedy. Heck, it even elevates this movie into something rather good, and certainly not easy to forget.