Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Review by Sean Lynch

Remember what it was like when you used to go and see pretty much anything in the early to mid 2000's that involved the All-Star teams of Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers, Anchorman, Old School), or when Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Raimus (Ghostbusters, Stripes) used to throw a flick together?

It pretty much looked like a bunch of mates who were given $50M to spend as they pleased, hang out, party - and generally have a good time - with the proviso that there was a movie to release at the end of it all.

Yep - it pretty much (to quote Superbad's Seth) "looks like the most fun... ever".

Things don't seem to have changed with the introduction of the latest comedy Rat Pack - the "Apatow Gang".

You've heard it before (and you'll hear it in every review you read for one of their movies for the next five years), but there really is little the folks behind Superbad, 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up can do wrong at this point (and I truly feel sorry for the first mook that gets handed the 'least successful' flick of the franchise later down the track). And while Sarah Marshall may show the first signs of weakness of any of Apatow's flicks - it's by no means any indication that the team don't have the ability to deliver the finest comedic films of the next decade.

The flick follow struggling musician Peter Bretter (How I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel, who also serves as the films writer) who has spent six years with his TV star girlfriend Sarah Marshall (the oddly cross-eyed Kristen Bell), but soon finds himself in dumpsville.

As is usually requested from mates (in thise case, Hot Rod and Superbad's Bill Hader) Peter embarks on series of womanizing and one night stands - to no avail (cue: "All By Myself" crying montage). To clear his head, Peter takes an impulsive trip to Oahu (has anyone else noticed that all these comedies are set in Hawaii? Can anyone else say "Tax Deductable Holiday!"), where he is confronted by his worst nightmare: his ex and her tragically hip new British-rocker boyfriend, Aldous (Russell Brand), are sharing his hotel.

You know the drill from here. Awkward meetings, new friendships, drunken escapades - and of course - a new love interest (in the utterly stunning Mila Kunis). The thing is, despite every cliche in the book - Forgetting Sarah Marshal somehow manages to keep it's originality in tact.

The real key here, as it has been with any Apatow production, is the tone of the flick. The free spirited idea that 90% of the movies best lines are most likely improvised on the day - and that's what makes it so much fun. Because you feel like your part of the joking around process.

All the usual faces are back (Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill) as well as a few welcome newbies (30 Rock fans will rejoice at the witnessing the big screen debut of their favourite NBC Page Boy "Kenneth") and this would , most likley the easiet cash these guys will ever make - a couple of days shooting, a few killer scene stealing lines, then a party in Hawaii.

The film's only flaw seems to be Segel. I've always been a fans of Jason Segal - from Freak & Geeks (where we first got a glimpse of Apatow's genius) to How I Met You're Mother. The guy is an enormous jolly giant. But compared to the other Apatow big hitters (and if you're going to slap "From The Makers of Knocked Up and Superbad" on the poster - be prepared to be compared), Jase seems to lack that leading man quality which is so sorely needed here.

Luckily, former 70s Show babe Mila Kunis saves the day - she is nothing short of perfect. Everytime she was on screen I felt like a 16 year old with a crush on my sisters older friend. Ridiculous - the first, and likely only, time I have actually gotten lost in someone's eyes. But I digress before I start sounding like an out-and-out stalker...

Extra points must also be awarded for the superb scenes taken from Sarah Marshall's CSI rip-off Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime. Not only does it deliver some well needed absurd laughs - it also gives Hollywood a chance to showcase the superb comic talents of the Baldwin's and Jason Bateman.

There's so much to like about Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Sarah's rock-star boyfriend steals the show) without ever being as memorable as it's sister-flicks.

Easily the stand-out comedy of 2008.

4 out of 5

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Australian release: 17th April, 2008
Cast: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Movie Website: Official Website