Love is a nasty business, and sex is the bittersweet symphony that when played backward is really a message from Satan.
We will all be hurt sooner or later in life's great pursuit, but still we persist. It's masochism at its most mainstream. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," though, sweetens the bitter with enough sugary vulgarity that it might make us forget just for the moment how much it hurts to break up.
This latest product from Judd Apatow's hit factory features "Undeclared" alum, and current staple on "How I Met your Mother," Jason Segel, taking his turn as leading man. Segel, also the film's writer, plays Peter Bretter, a composer noted for his "dark, ominous tones" on a popular CSI-themed TV show. He lives with his girlfriend of five years, who is also the star of the show, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). The film cuts right to the chase as Sarah surprises Peter with the towel-dropping bad news he never expected -- she's leaving him for someone else. Peter can only stand there naked, refusing to clothe himself, and deliver the hilariously heartbreaking line "if I put clothes on I know it's over." That someone else happens to be popular singer and smooth-talking British sleazebag Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), who sings memorable tunes such as "Inside of You" for the band Infant Sorrow.
Peter locks himself in a depressing haze of Sinead O'Connor, The Smiths, and tear-laced Fruit Loops for three self-pitying weeks. He finally decides to get away from everything that reminds him of Sarah and takes a trip to Hawaii, a place she always wanted to go. There the unthinkable, and frankly unbelievable, happens and he ends up at the same resort that Aldous and Sarah are using for their sexual gymnastics. This greasy limey can bend and twist in ways that are light-years ahead of the most inventive fantasies.
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is great at creating a universal situation of pain and despair and then coating it with Apatow's brand of over-the-top humor. While it's told from Peter's perspective and Sarah does the dumping, there is no clear-cut villain or hero. Both are at fault, and even though Peter is made a cuckold, it's impossible to hate Brand's never dull Aldous. The real villain is a five-year-long relationship mixed with unmet expectations. It is love in all its comedic tragedy.
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Completely agree on the pop culture references dating the movie. 10 Years from now, I doubt even the writer will remember what Flavor of Love is referring to. But it's not limited just to Apatow movies. I think the worst offenders are animated films. See Shrek 2 and 3.
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