So I Just Saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall
I may or may not chose to update this later with a more well thought out retrospective of the film. Until then, allow me to prattle on after three or four margaritas and one or two hours of the best movie I’ve seen in a long time.
I loved the movie. It was wonderful. And not just because I love to see Segel (albeit I never expected to see THAT much Segel) but because it was smart, funny, moving, and real. This took the romantic comedy genre, which has reduced itself to a meta cluster-fuck of in jokes thanks to Richard Curtis, and proved why that type of movie became so popular in the first place. It followed the same formula, but rather than the meet cutes feeling trite and the late-second-act conflict feeling forced, it played out like we were watching the lives of real people.
The supporting cast was great. The dude who played Aldous Snow (I’ll look him up later) was genius. He embodied that guy who is such a slimey d-bag that you want nothing to do with him yet, as Peter Bretter put it on the surf board “Damn, you’re cool”. Paul Rudd is also either the best actor of our time or he ad-libs every single line he speaks. His delivery is that good.
Kristen Bell is a gem. I love her. I couldn’t help feeling like her speech about not wanting to be forgotten since she won’t show her hoo-ha after her show was untimely canceled was a little true to life. Less evil villain and more realistic ex girlfriend, I actually felt bad for her even though I was totally on Peter’s side.
Mila Kunis was also fabulous. She balanced just on the brink of both emotionless tough girl and sensitive romantic. Her and Segel had great chemistry. The dinner scene between the four of them could’ve been a short film in and of itself.
At the base of it all is a story built on a metaphor. That metaphor being that every man needs a muse. That even if there is love in the home, a man can feel castrated being the purse holder while his famous girlfriend is in the spotlight. It would’ve been easy to make her vapid and self-obsessed, but she didn’t have to be. The nature of the beast is what broke Bretter in the first place. Then he meets that geek dream boat—the girl who’s pretty and confident and challenging. And with this new muse, the hero finds redemption. Puppet redemption, but a catharsis nonetheless.
That about does it. What did you guys think? Did you see it? I want you guys to go nuts so don’t worry about spoilers. That being said, if you haven’t seen the movie and don’t want to know the details, avoid these comments. In fact, why haven’t you seen it? Go now, then come back!
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Jon T. | April 19, 2008 @ 2:38 am
Four full-frontal shots!!!
Damn, that man is bold.
Eric | April 19, 2008 @ 3:33 am
Ya… Marshall is kinda the wholesome one in the HIMYM group, so to see him here in this film, and I do mean really SEE HIM, was a bit jarring.
That being said, I can’t say that I’m as in love with Forgetting Sarah Marshall as I was hoping. Maybe I was expecting something great, and that it is just very good half disappointed me. But it was very good; very similar to me in tone and in content to 50 First Dates, to which Forgetting will be often compared.
Jason was good in it, but it was Mila that stole the show for me. At once confident and sensitive, her character seemed the least caricature; the most real.
A definite go see, for HIMYM fans or otherwise. Just be prepared to see Jason, all of Jason.
The Coolest Gifts | April 19, 2008 @ 9:52 am
I see what Eric is saying…it wasn’t what I was expecting either.
I think that I was probably expecting long stretches of funny situations. What I got instead was a whole lot of very quick, (but very funny) moments.
It was much different than my expectations, but it worked. I was laughing the entire time.
And the casting director should get a huge raise. It was brilliant. Every single person was perfect.
JD, if you want to see another hilarious moment from the guy who played Aldous Snow, go 1:55 into the video at the bottom of this post…
http://www.awesomeology.com/2008/04/11/okay-now-im-ridiculously-excited-to-see-forgetting-sarah-marshall/
Jez | April 19, 2008 @ 10:21 am
i agree with eric…i expected it to be more on the lines of “superbad” but it was a sensitive movie which i liked….the christian couple was the funniest part for me…
“i dont think god meant to create a luscious forest next to a sewer system”
the casting was spot on! Sarah marshall was cute, mila was HOT….the british guy was HILARIOUS!!!!
if anybody has links to quotes from the movie, please let me know….
jack | April 19, 2008 @ 11:58 am
that movie was okay… and just okay.
IMO it was too long and poorly put together. There are definitely some REALLY funny parts, but if you saw the trailer, you saw all of the good ones.
I had much higher expectations for FSM and it just fell flat. I do agree, though, that the supporting cast was great.
The Coolest Gifts | April 19, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
>>> if you saw the trailer, you saw all of the good ones.
Um….no you didn’t.
Ike | April 19, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
Yeah saw it last night. It was very funny. Jason Segel plays the part of recently dumped emotional man very well. And the rock opera was amazing. I actually would love to see the whole thing. I cannot wait for his Muppet movie to come out, because he is a very smart, funny, and realistic writer.
J | April 20, 2008 @ 12:38 am
I thought it was one of the best Apatow films that have come out, def better than superbad and 40 year old virgin.
Lynn | April 20, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
I really liked it.
I thought it was a little different, eventho it had those raunchy funny parts.
I think all the characters were played really well.
I agree that Paul Rudd’s character was just hilarious. lol
:]
& of course I loved jason in the lead.
john d'arc | April 21, 2008 @ 1:24 am
did you get to see Neil at Comic Con in NYC?
Eric | April 21, 2008 @ 1:42 am
Definetly Ike,
The entire Muppet-Dracula-Rock-Opera just has to make it to the DVD release.
Nicole | April 21, 2008 @ 8:32 am
Please delete this post. Info for new post
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/fashion/20nite.html?8ur&emc=ur
Dana | April 21, 2008 @ 11:14 am
loved it. loved it loved it loved it.
I expected a movie more like the 40 year-old virgin and that’s just what we got. Hilarious, sweet, romantic and very likeable characters. All of them.
I loved when Peter sang the Muppet Theme song in the hotel.
It was exactly what I expected…I thought it was fun and I
Geri | April 21, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
I have no words……honestly. Actually I have too many words.
It was exactly as I expected – brilliant! Jason Segel is sharp and witty and I love the fact that even though this was an Apatow production, which we know usually encompasses much vulgarity, Jason kept the vulgarity necessary and real. Is it unreal that I am enamoured with this man? It’s a little scary for me!
Segel’s acting is so heartfelt that I couldn’t see anyone else in this role, making it feel real for the audience. I joked to my friend that Jason has a clause in his contract that he has to be partially nude in every role he plays (because he has been so far – of the ones i’ve seen anyway).
The rest of the cast were cast well, though I didn’t find the Sarah Marshall character that interesting to tell you the truth. I mean, Kristen Bell was great, but it just felt like all Sarah did was a lot of standing around and staring with wide eyes. I didn’t feel any depth from her (keeping in mind she wasn’t supposed to be a deep character). It seemed like she was the only one the movie WASN’T about. Maybe Segel meant it that way. I don’t know – I have to see the movie again because I was laughing so hard at everything I found it hard to concentrate.
I did notice the theatre got really quiet during the naked break up scene (thank you for that by the way Jason!). I expect either people were so encompassed by Jason’s acting, or in shock from the full frontal assult. It was brave of Segel to do and I think showed just enough to illustrate just how uncomfortable that situation should be.
I hope Jason continues down the line with his script writing. I am BUSTING to see the Muppets done by him. I am one of those people that only own the first Muppet Movie because, in my opinion, it was the true classic and is what a Muppets adventure should be.
As I said to my friend after reading an article about Segel “I love a man who loves puppets!”
Ian | April 21, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
It’s released this week in the UK and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Russell Brand is huge over here, check out Youtube for some of his Ponderland TV series, total genius!
Geri | April 21, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Just by chance I caught Jason on Ellen today. I think the second breakup story he told is awesome! I would have taken him back
His segment is the video of the day on the main page:
Geri | April 21, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Crap sorry, here’s the link:
http://ellen.warnerbros.com/
NV | April 22, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Absolutely loved it. Was as great as I hoped.
I laughed from the beginning of the movie to the end, and on ‘40-Year-Old Virgin’ has the distinction of being able to do that.
I thought Segel’s character, Peter, was great and someone I could relate to very easily. Sarah Marshall was almost a required character, you know there simply for the protagonist to feel the agony. Bell did what she could well, but I had no sympathy for her nor ‘understood’ her (although her recollection of how difficult it was to be Peter’s girlfriend was revealing, and hilarious).
That ‘CSI’ unwitty banter was amazing.
And when Peter started playing that Dracula music in the bar in Hawaii, I swear I thought he was going to impress with soem fancy, beautiful tune. When he made the villain laugh, I couldn’t hold laughing.
Mila Kunis was splendid, but again nothing I never saw before. However, that Snow guy, now he was completely different from the ‘new guy’ in movies. Massive respect. Hilarious too. Along with Paull Rudd’s guy (Paul Rudd is amazing everywhere).
I wasn’t impressed with Jonah Hill’s guy. But that character did help cause one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie, the dinner table awkward double-date (as Snow’s drink was touched). Cell-phone killing you? Priceless.
As for the nude scenes, the theatre I went to was half-awkward silence, half-unable to control the laughter (I was in the latter half, proudly). The reaction of the theatre-goers was funny in and of itself. I’m not sure, as I was laughing, but I could’ve sworn someone gasped very loudly some rows away from me.
Loved this movie. Loved the quick, witty, dialogue.
It’s a classic for me, already.
macdawson | December 29, 2008 @ 2:51 am
Naked Marshal had me ROFL. Tears rolled from my eyes. I tip my hat to Segel, he b@@ls. Literally. As for the rest of the movie, i totaly agree, it's the best romantic comedy in a long, LONG time. Segel is the man.