The inclusion of Judd Apatow’s or Seth Rogen’s name on a poster seems to ensure that a film earns mega bucks, and I imagine Forgetting Sarah Marshall isn’t going to alter that trend.
Apatow produces this romantic comedy which is actually quite a decent flick, if not for some glaring flaws. First and foremost on this list is our lead character, Peter (Jason Segel).
Unfortunately Segel isn’t up to the task. Sure, Peter is believable, and believably crushed when he is unceremoniously dumped, but he’s also a little dull. Actually, he’s very dull, and this is the main problem with the film. We’re supposed to be rooting for Peter, but I just spent most of my time waiting for him to shine. By the time we see anything other than self pity, it’s too late.
More’s the pity, because the script is actually quite good. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is actually a pretty hard thing for Peter to do, since he finds himself in close proximity to not just her, but also her new squeeze Aldous Snow. Kristen Bell plays the titular character brilliantly, and the scenes from her crappy TV show featuring William Baldwin are hilariously bad. Comedian Russell Brand plays pop star Aldous, and his character is basically an extension of his stand-up persona. What’s particularly impressive about the script is the fact that, well, everyone’s so nice. Aldous is quite a friendly guy for all his superstar flaws, and we frequently get to see the genuinely touching side of Sarah. This makes for a much more dynamic film than if they’d simply been arseholes the whole time. To top it off, there’s a whole host of minor characters who are all too willing to do what they can to help Peter – it seems the whole world is on his side. Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill unfortunately get lumped with pretty pathetic roles, their characters summed up by little more than a punch line.
Mila Kunis (who also voices Meg on ‘Family Guy’) is bright, chirpy and sensible – just what you’d expect in a love interest. Her scenes with Peter bring out the best in Segel, but it’s still not enough. That Segel wrote this often clever film, yet is the least accomplished performer is a shame.
It’s sad that there are almost as many negative elements as positive ones in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, cos it could have been great. It’s certainly much better than the overrated Knocked Up or Superbad.