Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Lissa Coffey
Grade: A-
| Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked-Up) produced and Jason Segal (How I Met Your Mother) wrote the screenplay and stars in this surprisingly sweet comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie opens with a much-talked about break-up scene in which Jason is completely naked. Emotionally, and yes, physically, no doubt about it. Jason has said in interviews that this scene was based on something that actually happened to him – it’s one of those painfully honest episodes in life where we can’t help but laugh. Kristen Bell plays the ex-girlfriend, and Mila Kunis plays the potentially new girlfriend he meets in Hawaii. After the break-up, Jason goes to Hawaii to lick his wounds, and ends up at the same hotel as his ex and her new flame, an over-the-top British rock star.
What makes the movie so good is that the characters are all really well drawn – they’re real people, not caricatures. The story has depth, we come to understand the circumstances that led our characters to this place, so we have more empathy for them in this situation. This is not a movie for everyone – it’s rated R – there’s lots of nudity and lots of sex, both physical and talked about. And there are also lots of laughs. It’s a very funny movie. |