Coming from the laugh factory of comedy kingpin Judd Apatow, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a film not quite as memorable as prior films Superbad and Knocked-Up, but charming and ridiculous enough to maintain audience members' stomach pains of laughter.
The film is both written by and starring Jason Segel, best known for his work on the television series "How I Met Your Mother," proving himself yet another up and coming Apatow-ian gem, with Sarah Marshall serving as his coming out party.
Segel plays Peter Bretter, an out-of-shape slacker whose large frame conceals a more sensitive and needy inner self. Spending his unfullfilling days scoring music for the "CSI"-like cop show "Crime Scene," starring his attractive girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell, "Veronica Mars"), the protagonist hopes of one day composing a Dracula-based Puppet Musical.
With this first taste of leading manhood, Segel proves more than willing to present real acting chops and Chachi to boot. Segel's protagonist fuels the movie's humor, willing to bare all for a laugh.
Full frontal(s) aside, the plot erects itself in a manner that's both crude and classy.
Echoing Seth Rogen's Ben Stone from Knocked Up, Bretter is an insecure underachiever with hopes and dreams of creating a better life for himself, all the while struggling with his immaturity. He's willing to play second fiddle to Sarah in public, holding her purse during photo shoots and ducking out of red carpet pictures while Ms. Marshall takes in the spotlight.
But when Sarah dumps Peter for Aldous Snow (scene-stealer Russell Brand, Penelope), an over the top self-absorbed British rock star who gets funnier each time you see him, the sensitive slob goes to Hawaii, and into an emotional tailspin.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall has all the ingredients of a knee-jerking, laugh-out-loud comedy. With enough sexual innuendo and bathroom humor for the macho males, sprinkled with shades of romance for the lovely ladies, the film meets all touches on all angles, save maybe grandma's brand of humor.
A hilarious cast of secondary characters including romantic interest Rachel (Mila Kunis, "Family Guy") and Peter's step brother Brian, played by Bill Hader ("Saturday Night Live"), add to the subtle hilarity already mastered by Segel.
Other locals extend themselves too: A large and lovable chef asks Peter to help him "take care" of a pig, the token black bartender indulges his drinking and delivers his rudimentary, albeit hilarious, one-liners and a na??ve newlywed trying to find the joy of marriage.
Bell's out-of-character performance alongside Kunis' exotic good looks are a welcome breath of fresh air, almost enough refreshment to get the taste and image of Segel's full-fledged manparts out of your mouth and mind.
Paul Rudd (I Could Never Be Your Woman) plays a stereotypical stoner surfing instructor and Jonah Hill (Strange Wilderness) plays a corky, overbearing waiter obsessing over Mr. Snow. William Baldwin ("Dirty Sexy Money") and Jason Bateman (Juno) make nice cameo appearances as Sarah's various co-stars.
Apatow and company have succeeded once again in this raunchy, yet touching comedy successfully defending their title as Hollywood's "Kings of Comedy."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
