the film's unpredictable nature, great characters and hilarious script that makes it my leading choice for comedy of the year.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:171
Fresh:143
Rotten:28
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: With ample laughs and sharp performances, Forgetting Sarah Marshall finds just the right mix of romantic and raunchy comedy.
Australian Theatrical Release:
Apr 17, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $62,725,000
Synopsis: Nicholas Stoller's FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is a romantic disaster comedy produced by the same team that made such hits as THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN and KNOCKED UP, headed by writer, director, and... Nicholas Stoller's FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is a romantic disaster comedy produced by the same team that made such hits as THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN and KNOCKED UP, headed by writer, director, and producer Judd Apatow. When he gets suddenly and unceremoniously dumped by his longtime girlfriend, television star Sarah Marshall (VERONICA MARS lead Kristen Bell), composer Peter Bretter (FREAKS AND GEEKS alum Jason Segel) is devastated. Miserably depressed, he seeks solace in tawdry one-night stands, but he is desperate to win Sarah back. On the advice of his stepbrother, Brian (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Bill Hader), Peter heads off to Hawaii for a much-needed vacation, but he gets even more freaked out when he discovers that Sarah and her new beau, wild and wacky British singing sensation Aldous Snow (comedian Russell Brand), are staying there as well. Mired in sadness, Peter is befriended by hotel employee Rachel Jansen (THAT '70S SHOW's Mila Kunis), who encourages him to get back his life and pursue his own dreams, which include staging a Dracula musical with puppets. But Peter is blinded by his desire for Sarah even as he grows closer to Rachel and starts hanging out with some of the hotel's odder personalities, including Chuck (Paul Rudd), a drug-addled surf instructor, and Matthew (SUPERBAD's Jonah Hill), a drug-dealing restaurant worker obsessed with Snow. Segel, who gets fully naked several times in the film, wrote the screenplay, a sharp blend of comedy and drama, and is solid in his first major starring role. Stoller, making his feature-film directorial debut, gets the most out of his diverse cast and beautiful setting, especially Jack McBrayer and Maria Thayer as a newlywed couple having some bizarre sexual problems, and Billy Baldwin as Sarah's costar in the television show CRIME SCENE: SCENE OF THE CRIME. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is an outrageously funny yet touchingly sweet movie. [More]
Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand
Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Jonah Hill
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Screenwriter: Jason Segel
Producer: Judd Apatow, Shauna Robertson
Composer: Lyle Workman
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for Forgetting Sarah Marshall
A reasonably genial, shambling little film, which is pretty much the same description I'd use for its writer-star Jason Segel.
'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' is needlessly long, but it is very funny, even when the humor is cringe-inducing.
Not one second in the film is unpleasant, for even the bummer scenes have the wistful ring of truth. But I do mind how much of it is no more than pleasant.
It's not that (Jason) Segel, a TV vet of How I Met Your Mother and one of the CSI series, looks like a normal guy. The problem is that he's also a blue-collar drone when it comes to acting.
It's really hard to like a character when his own movie makes fun of him...
'Forgetting Sarah Marxhall' channels Jason Segel's talents in a way that's satisfyingly fresh but still validates classic rom-com story arcs.
The wheels come off at the end, but before then there are plenty of memorable moments in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Although it contains plenty of producer Judd Apatow's signature raunch, it is a comedy to remember and a wryly funny, smartly written and acted story from the (broken) heart.
Ups the ante in terms of shock value by appealing to perhaps the lowest common denominator yet, starting with an opening scene featuring gratuitous shots of male genitalia. Two schlongs up!
The movie is very wise, but also unbelievably funny, proving again that the line between comedy and tragedy is a thin one. Forgetting Sarah Marshall makes you laugh and squirm in recognition at the same time.
The smartest thing about Segel's script is its spirit of generosity. It's a pleasure spending time with these people, and that affection lingers after the lights come up.
Horny, but vulnerable. Or as one hotel employee puts it, 'happy tissues' and 'sad tissues.' All I know is I had a smile on my face through almost every scene and laughed out loud more times than I can count. I still have the Hawaiian version of 'Nothing C
Rather than being the perfect first date movie, it serves up the perfect break up film. You might just laugh till you cry... or cry until you laugh if you're the one being dumped.
Not great--but not forgettable, either. Offers enough laughs, male-frontal nudity and charm to offer a swell time at the movies.
The phrase "good enough" applies, without any negative connotations that might unintentionally summon forth.
Latest News for Forgetting Sarah Marshall
January 08, 2009:
Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest achievements in 2008 filmmaking. A list of nominees follows below, with winners in bold: More...
December 17, 2008:
Academy Names 49 Eligible Oscar Songs ![]()
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October 01, 2008:
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The MPAA doesn't like it, but America has never been able to get enough of naked people on the big screen -- and Entertainment Weekly has honored our fondness for flesh with a... More...
September 29, 2008:
RT on DVD: Dark Knight DVD Details and Iron Man Deleted Scene!
News of The Dark Knight's December release leads a huge week for DVD lovers, and it's only getting bigger! First, check out our exclusive extended Dubai deleted scene from Iron... More...
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