Forgetting Sarah Marshall - mini-review

I have never watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother, so I had no idea who the star, Jason Segel of Forgetting Sarah Marshall was when I saw the film last week. It had the brand stamp of "produced by Judd Apatow", and therefore you kind of know what you're in for. Something raunchy, laugh out loud funny and not just a little bit sweet. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is all those things and Jason Segel is not only a very good writer, but he is one brave man. (I didn't realize till the credits that he also wrote the film.) You've probably heard by now that one of the opening scenes has Peter (Segel) standing full frontal nude as his girlfriend Kristen Bell (of Heroes) breaks up with him. FULL frontal and hilarious. Yes, this is an R film, but can you remember a guy being naked in a film showing all since, well, Richard Gere in American Gigolo? Mark Wahlberg's prosthetic schlong in Boogie Nights doesn't count. I whispered to my friend "Equal time!!", and it's about time, dammit! Peter's girlfriend Sarah keeps asking him to get dressed, and he refuses, saying if he puts his pants on then it will be real that she's leaving him.

Peter is devastated by the breakup, and goes to Hawaii on vacation to forget, but guess who is at the same resort with her British rocker boyfriend. Minor characters are played by actors from the Apatow stable -- Paul Rudd as a hilarious stoner surfing instructor, and Jonah Hill as restaurant host and uber fan of the rocker. The breakout performance is Russell Brand as rocker Aldous Snow. I have never seen this actor before, and let me tell you, this guy will be getting some major work from this film. He is a riot, and even Peter can't hate him.

My friend put her finger on the whole movie. She said as the credits were rolling, "That was a chick movie! Peter acted just like a chick would to a breakup." It's very true. This is a movie about a guy, but in reversing the roles it could have been the plot of any number of chick flicks, which was interesting. Also, I found it interesting that even though it's a broad comedy, no one was a stereotype, and you can't fully hate or dislike anyone. Even the ex-girlfriend, who in many movies would be a two-dimensional bitch, has real reasons for the breakup. And her rocker promiscuous boyfriend even Peter says is too cool to hate.

I really liked this movie, and highly recommend it. I give it three and a half stars. It was already playing at the cheap theater in our town, but is definitely one to watch for on DVD. Jason Segel is a talented writer as well as an actor, and I just read that he is penning a new Muppet Movie! Jason will be rejoining Paul Rudd in I Love You Man out in 2009.

Watch the Reel Geezers on Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They didn't both love the film, but caught the exact same chick flick vibe that we did. Watching them discuss the nude scene is a riot! Warning -- Spoilers in their review!