Peter (Jason Segel) is a TV composer for the CSI-like cop drama Crime Scene. He is a bit of a goon but, this being a Judd Apatow enterprise, he is living with the show’s star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell)… until she leaves him for British rock star Adlous Snow (Russell Brand). Peter falls into a pit of despair and decides to get himself out of it by going on holiday to Hawaii where, wouldn’t you know, he books into the same hotel as his ex and her new fella… which just sounds terrible not to mention a tad familiar as the Apatow gang seems to have stolen a plot from a Ray Cooney farce. The signs where not good for this one but it is nice to be wrong as the familiarity factor turns out to be what makes the film work…
Back in 1999 Judd Apatow made a brilliant little TV series called Freaks and Geeks that followed a bunch of kids in High School. It was one of those shows that was filled with characters that you recognized from your own school years and, in 2001, was followed by Undeclared. Although the second show was not a sequel it might as well have been as it featured similar characters (albeit with different names) and once again really got to grips with being young and slightly awkward. Segel was in both of these shows playing characters that fell in love to easily and too deeply – way too deeply. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (written by Segel) plays like a third act for that character and, for those of us that liked Nick Andopolis and Eric, forms a perfect end to that long forming character arc.
Of course that is a very personal view of the film, but even for those who have not done the required reading there is plenty to enjoy here. The cast keep proceedings knocking along nicely with strong performances from the leads (Russell Brand not annoying shocker!) and some great moments thanks to a handful of Apatow’s regular troupe (Paul Rudd, Johan Hill). The gags are good and although the film runs to almost two hours it certainly doesn’t sag like some of the producer’s other efforts – plus I would say that ‘Dracula’s Lament‘ is worth the watch all by itself.
7/10
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is available on DVD for rental and purchase now.
