"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is anything but forgettable.

Rating: 8/10 (23 March 2009)

In "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," musician Peter Bretter -- played by Jason Segel of "How I Met Your Mother" and "Freaks & Geeks" fame -- finds himself at the receiving end of a dumping by way of his TV-star girlfriend, the titular character of Sarah Marshall (Kirsten Bell). It goes without saying that he takes it rough, attempting to heal his wounds by boozing it up day and night, slumming in a string of one-night stands and barely catching a glimpse of daylight. It's not bad enough that every time he turns on the TV or goes to work he has to see her face (he provides the score for her TV show), but when he decides to take off to Hawaii in hopes of fading her from his memory, she happens to be staying at the exact same resort as him, with her new lover, the charismatic rock-star, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) in tow. With a little help from a desk-clerk played by Mila Kunis, he starts to come to terms with his predicament, while simultaneously finding new love and a renewed sense of passion for a long in-the-works rock opera about Dracula -- with puppets.
What makes "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" great, and what sets it aside from typical break-up comedy fare is that it's also a movie about finding the drive and ambition within yourself to do what truly makes you happy. It's in the same vein as other Judd Apatow fare such as "Knocked Up" and "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" in that while it's got a filthy mind, it's also got substantial heart. This flick, while being an Apatow production, was actually written by its star, Jason Segel, giving it a very personal feeling. Nothing is overly sugar-coated, as Segel finds himself in awkward moments that are a little too realistic to be works of fiction. The supporting cast -- consisting of Apatow regulars and otherwise -- are as wild as they seem natural at times. Mila Kunis is stunning and sweet as Peter's newfound love-interest, while Kirsten Bell plays the manipulative, confused ex-girlfriend to a T. Russell Brand isn't so much playing the role of the self-absorbed, sex-nuts rocker, as he is playing a character that seems to exist within himself. Other, slightly minor roles from Bill Hader, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill and Jack McBrayer provide some of the more off-color humor of the film. Its a well-rounded film that will speak volumes to many people, regardless of where they are at in their lives. Segel's script keeps things feeling real, playing it close to the chest and not afraid to delve into the most awkward and true-to-life situations. Its ending is a bit clichéd, but would you want it any other way? Overall, you'll leave this one feeling satisfied and with a little left to chew on.