Forgetting Sarah Marshall Review

SarahmarshallThanks for checking out our Forgetting Sarah Marshall Review.

The General Idea

Plot Outline From IMDB: Devastated Peter (Segel) takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah (Bell). Little does he know Sarah’s traveling to the same resort as her ex … and she’s bringing along her new boyfriend.

The Good

Many of the funniest moments in this film come through verbal sparring. One person will burn someone, and with outstanding timing a retort will be given, funnier than the previous line. The stacking of punch lines is a very good comedic technique, causes big hearty laughs and is done often in this film.

Going in, I was skeptical about Jason Segel as the lead. I didn’t care much for his character in Knocked Up, and was afraid it would be more of the same. To my delight he was nothing like his Knocked Up character and was great as the leading man. He was hilarious and believable as a man with a broken heart; like all of us, I am sure he has had some practice. His natural ability as a piano player was put to good use and served as an excellent way to add uniqueness to his character. Staring in a script you wrote has its advantages; Jason crafted a story that played to his strengths and resulted in a damn funny film.

The cameos in this film are outstanding, I will not mention them – because that would ruin the surprise. I will tell you that the greatest cameos come via the TV show that Sarah Marshall stars in, and were milked for maximum hilarity.

The Bad

This film follows a typical ROMCOM structure and offers no deviation from type. You know how things are going to end and you know that right before the happy ending the couple will have an issue that will strain their fledgling relationship. I am not against sticking to formula, but the ROMCOM structure is so beat to death that it nauseates me. The “crisis” moment is funny as hell however, and is done in a way that allows people to relate to both sides of the argument.

Overall

This movie was very funny, and the theatre was aflame with laughter the entire screening. To give you an idea of how enjoyable it was, I would consider it superior to Knocked Up but under 40 Year Old Virgin. The film was very funny and made the most of its formulaic and predictable skeleton. Harold and Kumar had more gut busting jokes thanks largely to NPH but this film certainly edges ahead with the number of quality jokes. Out of 10 I would give this film an 8. I can see this film becoming very popular, and is one you should check out April 18th.

Comment with Facebook

25 thoughts on “Forgetting Sarah Marshall Review

  1. I really enjoyed this film i thought it was very funny and easy going and all the characters were well suited to there parts. I thought Russell Brand was amazing very good actor. I agree with the review and it is a very girlie romcom film and is very predictable but i still thought it was very enjoyable, i would recommend this film to anyone.

  2. Hello,
    My name is Helias and I work for Creative Asylum, a Hollywood based advertising and marketing agency. I would like to share a fun feature that we created to promote the upcoming DVD release of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

    If you liked seeing Russell Brand hosting the VMA’s, join him and the cast of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in creating a video dedication along with Russell Brand’s character, Aldous Snow’s music video “Inside of you,” and send to someone special.

    Here’s how the applications works. First step is to choose a theme. You have the option to choose from uploading a single photo of yourself or uploading two photos of you and your significant other. Next, choose your background. Last, write a message and dedicate it to someone you have warm feelings for. It’s that easy. You can even be anonymous or send to multiple “interests.”

    After you’ve dedicated your video to that special someone, check out the “Featured Dedications” to read what other people wrote, even Aldous Snow’s dedication to Sarah Marshall or read up on “About the DVD” for more info on the release of the unrated “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Either way, you’ll get a kick out of it.

    We thought it might be interesting to share this with some of your readers. Send your dedication!

    Links:
    Forgetting Sarah Marshall Official Website:
    http://www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com/index.html
    Inside of You Video Dedications:
    http://www.fsminsideofyou.com
    Creative Asylum:
    http://www.creativeasylum.com

    Helias Pereira
    Digital Group
    323)467-9600

  3. So I’m trying to figure out who sings a song during the movie that’s not on the sound track. When Peter has a quick flashback with him and his ex getting out of a limo at some event a song is playing. What is it? Anyone know? The only words I can hear is a female singing “everybody” Thanks.

  4. and a sensible young man too. not only do i agree with your principles, but i’m gonna encourage my whore-of-a-daughter to live like a slob/slut as well.

  5. segel, i thought you were at the same time credible as you were; ‘a very hansome young man’. “where was seth rogan”, i hear the ladies from my ‘bingo’nigh’ calling out?

    not only do i agree with them, but i live them!

  6. my bestist thanks to mssrs. stoller, segel and the producers.

    all the actors we’re amazing as well; (brand, loved it! [first time ot big screen? fu#@in amazing mate {hammer}!]) nice to see an english guy not playin the cunt for a change (thank you whowever; cos it hurts being slated from the ones we love).

    waiting impatiently for the next one.

  7. This film was shown at my university tonight and Stoller was there for a Q&A after the screening. The film was the typical Apatow romp that we have seen as of late (Superbad, Knocked up, etc.). There was the usual crude and creative humor as well inappropriate sexuality to make another great Apatow team production. People should not come in with the expectation that this is another romantic comedy reincarnation of “Knocked Up”. This is more of a typical and organic romantic comedy. The heavy emotional weight and issues in “Knocked up” are not present in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”. The casting and comedic pacing was done very well and though it may not be a cinematic heavy hitter, it was very good for a directing debut and it was what movies all strive to be, entertaining.

  8. The person above who stated the ad agency who did the benches, buses, billboards, etc S U C K E D was absolutely R I G H T.

    I think due to the horrible and negative ads, revenue was adversely impacted.

    Im actually one example. It’s disappointing to hear that it may have been a funny movie, but because i so despised the marketing campaign, by extension, i didn’t want to spend money to see the movie.

    Too bad, because i know i am not the only one…

  9. i just saw forgetting sarah marshall, and i thought it was great. I agree that it wasn’t quite on the same parallel as 40 yr old virgin, but overall i think i liked it better than Superbad (don’t get me wrong here, superbad was hilarious – i cannot refute that). It definitely falls under that ROMCOM structure, but in the end I thought it was well done.

  10. this film was fantastic!!. i didnt plan to go to see it but i am sooo glad we did. the whole cinema room’s viewers was laughing really loud! this is the best ever well done!!

  11. This movie had a lot of sex scenes, me and my friend went to see it without knowing what it was about. Think it was used to fill up time… Could have added a bigger side plot to it..

  12. Oh absolutely. It seems like Judd Apatow creations can’t really soar into the upper echelon of funny unless he actually directs them himself. Whoever said that this is going to be a MONSTER hit might be off-base. It’s funny, but overall it’s yet another formulaic romcom that’ll be playing on FX. Heavily edited, of course.

  13. i just watched this from a ripped copy….it was decent but not really my kind of film……superbad was way way way way way better

    M C L O V I N ! ! ! ! ! ! !

  14. This was funny, but not funnier than Knocked Up, 40 Year-Old Virgin or Superbad. Still, I’d give it 2.5 or 3 stars and would recommend it as a full-priced feature, but I wouldn’t see it again or buy it on DVD.

    Oh, and this had more sausage than Hillshire Farms. WOW.

  15. Seems like ROMCOMs are destined for failure nowadays. They’re either blasted for sticking to the formula (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) or blasted for not sticking to the formula (The Break-up).

    But if you say it’s nearly as good as 40-Year-Old-Virgin, I’m freaking there.

Leave a Reply