Forgetting Sarah Marshall

From The 40-year-old Virgin to Knocked Up, the Judd Apatow brand of romantic comedy has made dick flicks the new chick flicks. Following his sanctioned formula, Forgetting Sarah Marshall pokes shameless fun and glib at woe using a male demographic. The personal growth of Apatow’s boyish protagonists are positioned to hurt, then get humiliated at the audience’s expense, but remarkably, seems to work every time.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall centralises on the repercussions of a break up between the very slobby Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) and his long-time girlfriend, television star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). Wretchedly depressed, he attempts numbing his inner pain with a string of tawdry one-night stands, until he is advised to go on a much-needed vacation in Hawaii. However, he subsequently discovers Sarah and her new beau, rock sensation Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) are staying at the same hotel. After establishing the painfully awkward, Peter then embarks a journey to move on, with the help of several hotel employees, especially that of the very attractive Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is adequately enjoyable, prescribing its audience to laugh at the lemons life throws at them. However, it also seems rather scattered, with a loose sense of purpose or drive in the film, which deters its audience’s attention, not so successfully reflecting the grey plateau area that is normally inherent after a break up. Regardless of plot effect, the actors shine in this one, giving a very humane likeability factor to even Sarah and Aldous. However, Segel steadily steals the show with a precise portrayal of the average man, making it incredibly easy for guys to relate to and girls to feel sorry for. While hilariously crass, Forgetting Sarah Marshall might not require brains to watch, but it has a heart to go with its lark.

Cast Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell Director Nicholas Stoller Runtime 112 mins Opens 7 August

Text Claudia Low