Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller have set an early benchmark for comedies this year with the winner that is Forgetting Sarah Marshall!
Peter just got dumped by “sexpot” TV star Sarah Marshall and decides, after a few weeks of promiscuity and wallowing in the remains of his relationship, that he should go to Hawaii to get away from it all. Little does he know that his ex-Sarah Marshall is there as well and she isn’t alone. Marshall‘s fling is British pop star Aldous Snow who sings about being “inside of you” and asks his fans to sodomize intolerance. Peter finds a romantic interest as well in Rachel, a hotel attendant, and the foursome begins a week of chance encounters and discovering their relationships between each other. I won’t spoil the plot any further, but will say that it is solid and never really feels stale. This is probably helped by the constant string of good humor and clever jokes steadily delivered through out the picture.
Since the action takes place at a hotel/resort there are a number of reoccurring characters, be they guests in the form of a reoccurring newlywed couple, a surf instructor, or a number of the help and wait staff, the cast is littered with varying and funny people to like. Paul Rudd plays the fore mentioned stoner surf instructor and has a couple of bits of half-baked wisdom for Peter as he tries to move on with his life. Jack McBrayer is the real stand out though as the sexually lost newlywed that bumbles through his sexual trials and tribulations. The supporting staff is solid and has plenty of good bits and one liner’s, but the leads are all fantastic in their respective rolls.
Mila Kunis comes out of left field and knocked me on my butt in this one. I hated her and her voice on That 70’s Show and was completely blindsided when she doesn’t come off as one bit annoying, but also turns in a really great turn as Rachel, Peter’s love interest. She is sweet, funny, and attractive and does a great job as the ying to Sarah Marshall’s yang.
Speaking of Sarah Marshall, Kristen Bell does a great job at creating a very real and wounded girl that you could get behind for all of her actions. Also give her major props for her “bad tv” acting with Billy Baldwin that is just a great jab at the C.S.I’s and procedurals of the world.
Russell Brand makes his debut to me as the great Aldous Snow who is just incredibly likable with his rock star spin on the world. Brand perfectly brews Snow from the bane to our lead Peter, to a pretty cool and hilarious guy that you can’t help but like, even if he has the rationale of a child.
Jason Segel is the biggest stand out though as Peter. Easily carrying the movie, he is endlessly likable, and is a very real guy here, and not some macho jock douche that I am supposed to like. Segel’s best attribute here is that you would want to be friends with someone like Peter and he has no problem pulling that off.
This film rarely slows down and remains consistently funny. Segel’s script is full of great pop culture references, some great flashback bits, and covers a wide variety of humor and jokes. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the best comedy in this young year, and stands a top as the best of the recent Apatow produced winners of last year. Check this one out as soon as you can if you’re looking for a comedy for adults, both male and female.
9.25/10