movie: forgetting sarah marshall

A word about Jason Segel: I have been a big fan since Freaks and Geeks, for two main reasons: his ability to convincingly go from adroably doofy to creepy, and his complete lack of fear (again, Freaks & Geeks fans know of what I speak). I have read a couple other reviews of Forgetting Sarah Marshall that call Jason Segel "schlubby" and claim that it is completely unrealistic to expect that his character could lure just one gorgeous woman into bed--let alone two or four. These reviewers are completely out of touch. Never mind that Segel's character, Peter, is a) a decent guy, b) emotionally supportive, c) employed. A large part of being on board with this character, and the movie in general, is Segel himself. And he is hardly "schlubby." He's more like that Everyman romantic lead that prevailed in the 70s/80s, before people got all air-brush and six-pack happy.

So by now you know the set-up for this movie: Sarah Marshall, star of L&O/CSI clone show, dumps Peter, he goes to Hawaii to recover, but she's there with her new boyfriend. Hijinks and romance ensue.

The movie owes a lot to conventional romantic comedy tropes--the idea that an entire hotel staff would rally behind some dude, for example, is fairly unrealistic but works within this genre. So too with the honeymooning couple (fans of 30 Rock are going to find Jack McBrayer in a role that will not surprise them at all--well, except for the sex part), the new love interest's ex-boyfriend . . . If you just go with it, it's fun.

Watching this in the wake of my own relationship's end perhaps gives me a different perspective on it than I would have otherwise, but I thought the interpersonal aspects of this movie rang absolutely true. I know that most people don't look for Truth in romantic comedies, but isn't it nice when you do find it? The main characters each have their own inner logic. Sarah's new squeeze may be a self-absorbed hedonist, but he's also just this guy who wants to get along with everyone--he isn't particularly jealous (because he's a rock star who can and will sleep with everyone) and he genuinely wants to be friends with Peter. And it makes sense that he's not going to be the emotional support that Sarah needs when she gets some bad news, which then makes her return to Peter completely in character and believable, as is how that situation plays out.

More importantly, the movie makes clear that Peter bears some responsibility for the dissolution of the relationship. Nearly all the characters are believably human, including Sarah--not what you'd expect from the advertising campaign. A handful of characters are written with broad strokes, and they do stand out as weaknesses in an otherwise perfectly enjoyable movie. 

Yes, there are moments of raunch and some full frontal shots. There are a couple cringe-worthy moments but mostly the movie made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Again, it may be in large part because I simply adore Jason Segel. It may be because I am for the most part a fan of the Judd Apatow oeuvre. Within that spectrum, I would place Forgetting Sarah Marshall closer to The 40 Year-Old Virgin than the others. Definitely worth seeing.

Comments

[heather]

oh man, i am so with you when it comes to jason segel. i've had a crush on him since freaks and geeks - and equally love him as marshall on how i met your mother.