 |
 |
In the oh-so-Judd-Apatow romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jason Segel is frontally naked at the beginning and the end -- a gutsy move for a guy only slightly less flabby than his Apatow rep company-mate Seth Rogen.
It's a truly funny scene that opens the film. Stepping out of the shower, the hack composer Peter is met by his TV star girlfriend Sarah (Kristen Bell), who informs him they're breaking up -- but she won't talk about it until he puts on some clothes.
Ipso fatso, our guy irrationalizes that they're not really broken up as long as he's naked, setting up a lengthy scene of pasty skin exposure and angst.
Apatow, who produces Forgetting Sarah Marshall behind first-time director Nicholas Stoller, didn't exactly reinvent the romantic comedy for men. This is still version B-2 of the template -- guy loses girlfriend, guy meets someone else, things change and guy has a choice to make.
But he did introduce sexual verisimilitude into the genre. The shower scene, written by Segel, is said to be based on his real-life breakup with Freaks & Geeks co-star Linda Cardellini. And sex, usually awkward and/or crude, plays a part throughout Forgetting Sarah Marshall. (Hence, if you liked Knocked Up, you'll probably like this. If not ...)
Case in point, a subplot involving Jack McBrayer as a devout Christian newlywed on his honeymoon, horrified by his virginal young wife's desires. It takes lessons in imaginative coitus from a pretentious rock star, demonstrated by humping giant chess pieces (it would take too long to explain) to bring Jesus into their bedroom.
|
The rocker, Aldous Snow (ably played by British comedian Russell Brand) is the "other man," in Peter's relationship with Sarah -- a vapid rock poet who writes eco-anthems such as We've Got to do Something and unsubtle love songs such as Inside of You. As you might already know from the trailers, Peter decides to forget Sarah by going to Hawaii. Alone. To a resort full of couples. One of which is Sarah and Aldous.
This what-are-the-odds plot twist (and an unlikely room arrangement that occurs later) sets up complex chemistry -- particularly after Peter meets his own "other woman," a guest services staffer named Rachel (Mila Kunis).
It's well known that women aren't exactly fleshed out in movies with Apatow's imprimatur. Sarah Marshall's character arc goes from bitch to fragile bitch to misunderstood bitch. Kunis does better with her role-sketch -- a smart-alecky, bossy, unpredictable party girl. It may only be a few degrees to the left of Jackie on That 70s Show, but she seems more comfortable in her role than Bell is in hers, and she may be a much better actor than advertised.
Be sure to pay enough for parking. Like other Apatow films, Forgetting Sarah Marshall takes as long as it takes, plus 20 minutes.
This leaves time for friends-of-Apatow to play with their cameos, including Paul Rudd as a stoned surf instructor, Jonah Hill as a waiter with a crush on Aldous, and Bill Hader as Peter's brother-in-law, whose efforts to slap sense into him are mostly ignored.
Still, the writing is sharp throughout, and the interplay -- particularly when the two couples finally stake their battle lines -- is juicy and believable.
You'll laugh, Peter cries, and somebody ends up with somebody they belong with.
That's pretty much all you can ask from a rom-com.
(This film is rated 18-A)