forgetting sarah marshall
I've wanted to write about Forgetting Sarah Marshall for quite some time.
I first saw it when it first came out, months ago. Then, a few Fridays back, I escaped from some tiresome company to see it again at the Riverview. Last night, I saw it for a third time.
I'm not sure why it was so hard for me to just sit down and blog about this movie. For one thing... I love it. Maybe I love it so much that I'm terrified I won't do it justice.
At the same time, it may be hard to tell you what's so great about this movie without revealing too many of its delightful little nuggets of realism, comedy, genuine heart, singing puppets, naked guys... you know.
This is what I can tell you. Forgetting Sarah Marshall holds up to repeat viewings. Every time I've seen it, there's more stuff that just makes me laugh out loud. The humor is a bit raunchy... most of it's sexually based... but to be honest, I'm good with that. (This is the girl that reviewed Kinky Kong, remember, people?) It's not for kids. There's plenty of nudity, of all kinds. The F-Bomb is dropped indiscriminately (you know... like in life).
But beyond the sex, the nudity, the cussing, at the heart of the movie... it's real. The characters feel like real people, the emotional ups and downs are real, the romance is real. To be honest, these are people I'd be friends with in real life, with thepossible probable exception of the title character, Sarah Marshall. I'm sure it's no big spoiler to tell you she's pretty much a ho-bag.
And how could I forget... the casting of supporting roles is outstanding. This is true in most any Judd Apatow movie, but it's especially true in this case. Jack McBrayer is awkward and hilarious, Mila Kunis is lovely, Russell Brand steals the show. Paul Rudd is brilliant as always (he could easily play the pretty boy in every movie, but he eschews that in favor of interesting, unique characters. I respect him so much for that.) Oh yeah, and Jason Segel is officially now one of my favorite people in film.
Anyway... my worst fears have come true. I have come nowhere close to doing this fantastic movie justice. But let me just say... 5 stars out of 5. Absolutely fantastic. The best (in my opinion) of all Judd Apatow's movies. And... perhaps the most telling... I actually plan to buy this movie on DVD*.
Please see it.
*Not a common occurrence.
I first saw it when it first came out, months ago. Then, a few Fridays back, I escaped from some tiresome company to see it again at the Riverview. Last night, I saw it for a third time.
I'm not sure why it was so hard for me to just sit down and blog about this movie. For one thing... I love it. Maybe I love it so much that I'm terrified I won't do it justice.
At the same time, it may be hard to tell you what's so great about this movie without revealing too many of its delightful little nuggets of realism, comedy, genuine heart, singing puppets, naked guys... you know.
This is what I can tell you. Forgetting Sarah Marshall holds up to repeat viewings. Every time I've seen it, there's more stuff that just makes me laugh out loud. The humor is a bit raunchy... most of it's sexually based... but to be honest, I'm good with that. (This is the girl that reviewed Kinky Kong, remember, people?) It's not for kids. There's plenty of nudity, of all kinds. The F-Bomb is dropped indiscriminately (you know... like in life).
But beyond the sex, the nudity, the cussing, at the heart of the movie... it's real. The characters feel like real people, the emotional ups and downs are real, the romance is real. To be honest, these are people I'd be friends with in real life, with the
And how could I forget... the casting of supporting roles is outstanding. This is true in most any Judd Apatow movie, but it's especially true in this case. Jack McBrayer is awkward and hilarious, Mila Kunis is lovely, Russell Brand steals the show. Paul Rudd is brilliant as always (he could easily play the pretty boy in every movie, but he eschews that in favor of interesting, unique characters. I respect him so much for that.) Oh yeah, and Jason Segel is officially now one of my favorite people in film.
Anyway... my worst fears have come true. I have come nowhere close to doing this fantastic movie justice. But let me just say... 5 stars out of 5. Absolutely fantastic. The best (in my opinion) of all Judd Apatow's movies. And... perhaps the most telling... I actually plan to buy this movie on DVD*.
Please see it.
*Not a common occurrence.
June 26, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Very nice, passionate review, though I do have one disagreement. You say "these are people I'd be friends with in real life with the possible probable exception of...Sarah Marshall...she's pretty much a ho-bag."
I thought one of the great things that set FSM apart was that Sarah was humanized along with everyone else. Sure, she cheated on him, but she wasn't portrayed as (and didn't act like) an evil bitch. She was just another person, and she had real (and pretty valid) reasons for stepping out on him.
June 26, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Interesting. Nayana, you'd probably love "How I Met Your Mother" on TV or "Freaks and Geeks" on DVD. Both show Jason Seigel terrifically!
June 26, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Fletch... I agree except for the "valid reasons" part. She's by no means a flat character... you can definitely see her point of view. But she strikes me as a user.
Jess... Very insightful of you. Those are two of my favorite TV shows of all time. :-)
June 26, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I think FSM might be my favorite of the Apatow-Approved comedies...so much so that i actually included it on the LAMB survey for Best Comedies Ever.
I posed this question on my blog, but no one gave any answers - so I'm gonna ask you:
Was it just me, or did you actually kinda want to see that Dracula Musical?
June 26, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Hatter, your comment brings joy to my absurdity-loving heart. I had that exact thought last night as I was watching it... "I wonder if they'd ever produce this, and if I could see it in Minneapolis..."
June 26, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Like funny puppet shows? You guys should try to see Avenue Q, if it's still playing anywhere (Broadway might be the only place). Saw it in Vegas a few years back, and it's damn funny and damn wrong.
June 26, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Avenue Q was in Minneapolis a few months back.... I missed it, unfortunately.
June 26, 2008 at 4:22 PM
AVE Q will be playing Toronto next month, and I couldn't be more excited.
Pretty sure the A-Q people helped stage that scene.
The girl puppeteering the Mina Harker puppet was in a musical episode of "Scrubs". When it aired, my fiancee mentioned that she was one of the A-Q cast members.
I'm thinkin it'd be co-incidenatl for just HER to be in the puppet musical scene and get no other help from the rest of her cast & crew...no?
June 29, 2008 at 7:43 PM
I would love to see that Dracula musical. I saw Avenue Q on Broadway, it is non-stop laughter and creative genius. Because after all, "the internet IS for porn"! I swear, this is a number in the show .... see it!
July 1, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Great write-up. FSM was my #1 film of the year until Young@Heart came along. Both are tops in their genres though.
I've been wanting to see this again, need to check if the local funky cheap theater has FSM now.
And Dracula the Puppet Musical - bring it on!
July 1, 2008 at 2:36 PM
It really is fantastic. I'm looking forward to having the DVD for my very own, but I'm a little sad that it's leaving the theaters. Wonder if I could squeeze in a fourth viewing?