Saturday, April 26, 2008

Movie Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (and the previews before it)

This is my second attempt at this review. Last time, I hit some buttons and got taken to my e-mail settings. If I go on a murderous rampage some time in the near future, just know that my desktop computer drove me to it.

Just so every one knows, this film features full frontal male nudity. More than one scene of it. If you've read anything about the movie, this should be no surprise. But if you haven't, don't be surprised.

That being said, I really liked this movie. It is produced by Judd Apatow and follows the "crude, but sweet" formula that he made popular.

Jason Segel wrote the movie and stars as Peter, a TV soundtrack composer who is dating a young, up and coming actress. That is, until she dumps him. He is distraught, and decides to vacation in Hawaii to get his mind off of things. Unfortunately, his ex is staying at the same hotel--with her new boyfriend.

That fact is an awesome coincidence, made more so that Peter comes to that particular hotel on a whim without a reservation.

That piece of sloppy writing aside, there are a lot of trite sterotypes this type of movie could fall into. The ex-girlfriend could be heartless and cruel, the new boyfriend, and arrogant jerk, the rest of the characters not well defined, etc. Segel avoids all these traps. Yes, Peter's Girlfriend Sarah, played by Kristen Bell, does break his heart, but her reason for breaking up with him is logical and believable. Her new boyfriend Aldous, played by Russell Brand, is a cad, but you'll like him in spite of yourself.

Part of this can be due in part to the great acting. Each actor portrays their character with depth and emotion. There are no bad guys here, just human beings with complex emotions.

Special kudos goes to Brand. He does well in his role and, if there is as much improv in this movie as there is in the typical Apatow fare, he deserves credit for his top notch improving skills. He comes off with some of the funniest lines and delivers them well.

And Mila Kunis is simply charming as Rachel. The camera in this film loves her. Don't get me wrong, she is a pretty girl, but here she is absolutely gorgeous and beautiful.

There are a bit of the typical "break-up" film tropes that sneak in, but if you can handle the nudity and crudity, you will be charmed and touched by this movie.

Now the trailers;

  • Sex and the City: People are saying this could be one of the biggest movies of the summer. I really don't see it. What is the draw? How will the movie be different than the TV show? What makes the movie so special? From this trailer, not much.
  • Get Smart: Must see this movie. I am a fan of the cast, and the writing seems right there.
  • The Wackness: The Sundance favorite and really seems like one too. I love the fact that it is set in 1994. Are we supposed to be nostalgic for the early 90s? I lived through the early 90's. There wasn't much to be nostalgic about.
  • Incredible Hulk: I think this movie has the very strong possibility of rocking. Of kicking the ass mightily. The trailer portrays it as a chase movie first, action movie second, and cgi fest third. And, you know, I think the Hulk could work well with that format.
  • Wanted: This one, however, is kind of eh. Not that I was a fan of the comic (I was too busy trying to figure out who J.G.Jones was modelling the characters after to listen to Mark Millar insult me), but this movie holds only a slight tether to that work. Why bother adapting it if it is unrecognizable to fans of the source material? And I've notice more focus in the trailer and posters is being placed on Angelina Joile. I wonder how that is going to work.



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