An Enjoyable Adult Comedy

Rating: 6/10 (4 May 2008)

Generally American comedy films specialise in "gross out" humour, British ones in a more subtle, wordy version. This plays largely to type but with a nice twist, with the twist being British actor Russell Brand who does both.
Producer Judd Apatow specialises in a puerile, obvious humour which was successfully exploited in Knocked Up, The 40 year old virgin,and Superbad,all of which have enjoyed considerable commercial success.Afficiandos will not be disappointed. Mens genitalia are supposed to be funny, and spoof blow job videos hilarious.Yet in this simple romp emerges a comedy which does have its moments.
Anti-hero,and writer, Jason Segel pretty much plays it straight as jilted Peter Bretter to a very pretty, but less than convincing Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall.However the stand out turn comes from Russell Brand, almost playing himself, as Rock Star Aldous Snow. Brand offers a performance of swagger, style, panache and braggadocio which steals every scene he is in. He has all the best lines and knocks a solid supporting love interest role performance from Mila Kunis as Rachael Jansen solidly into touch.Neatly combining wild excess, with witty wordy observations,Brand romps through the role in the same way that he would through a nunnery!
Some odd editing, and clunky scene changes do not detract from some very good, and funny, set pieces, and the story stops thankfully short of any moralising.The four hander between the "foursome" at dinner is by far the stand out scene with brand coming to terms with a particularly offensive "shirt as gift" with the memorable cry "take my eyes but not my shirt" to an over eager waiter.
Not a "big screen" essential by any means,but well worth a look nonetheless.