It Isn’t Necessary To Forget Sarah Marshall

It’s no surprise anymore that Jason Segel doesn’t leave anything to the imagination in what could become spring’s biggest blockbuster, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. But beyond talking about this incredibly worn out subject is a small adjustment to the normal Apatow formula we’re accustomed to seeing lately. The changes are subtle but present regardless. On the perimeter it appears to be a lighthearted romantic comedy, which it certainly is, but it also finds itself exploring a break up better than most films, especially 2006’s The Break Up.

Jason Segel plays Peter Bretter, a music composer for the hit TV show Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime. It just so happens that his girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), stars on the show, but when their relationship abruptly ends things start to crash down on Bretter. At first he tries to handle the situation by simply having sex with as many girls he can get his hands on. After a few failed attempts, and one too many “hellos,” he decides to take a trip to Hawaii to relax his mind but he soon finds his ex-girlfriend planned a vacation with her new boyfriend at the exact hotel he’s staying. Luckily he meets a resort employee, Rachel (Mila Kunis), that’s willing to help him through his problems.

The story also has its share of zany supporting characters. Jonah Hill plays a fan obsessed waiter trying to get himself noticed by Sarah’s current boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Paul Rudd plays Chuck, an often forgetful and stoned surfing teacher who offers his own brand of wisdom on Peter’s situation. And finally, Bill Hader lends his talents as Peter’s step brother. Plus there are smaller roles for various hotel employees that add some comedic depth to the already funny situation. Considering the variety of comedic acts featured in Forgetting Sarah Marshall you’ll be hardnosed to find something that doesn’t meet your fancy.

I was also surprised to see that Marshall is better at mixing comedy with heartfelt moments than earlier Apatow films. This can be contributed to the combination of Segel and Apatow’s writing efforts. Both have a good understanding of Segel’s earlier work and exploit that knowledge to the max. Director Nicholas Stoller also includes short insights into the earlier workings of Peter and Sarah’s relationship, adding context and strength to each line. Marshall won’t get you laughing as hard as previous Apatow favorites but it manages to keep you chuckling all the way through. It also relies less on pop culture fueled jokes than Superbad and Knocked Up. While those jokes are all perfectly crafted, it’s hard to see how future audiences will find them extremely funny like we do now. Likewise, you won’t find as many quote-worthy passages. In short, his earlier films will find themselves aging less like wine and more like vinegar but Marshall will hold a little more backbone.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall ends up being one of the most enjoyable films released so far this year. It’s not a revolution for dating films but it manages to avoid many common plot points that usually annoy me. You might find some people arguing that the ending is foreseeable but in this case, it’s exactly what you’re calling for.