Jason Segel has a breakthrough performance

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2010)

Before I saw this movie when it came out in theaters, I only knew who Jason Segel was from his small part in Knocked Up as one of Seth Rogen's buddies. Segel wrote the screenplay for this movie and stars as Peter Bretter, a musician for a TV show that stars his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (played by Kristen Bell). It starts out with Peter feeling good about himself knowing that he has a stable job and a hot girlfriend. All that changes when Sarah shows up at Peter's apartment to break up with him. This has Peter upset for days. His step-brother (Bill Hader) suggests that he takes a trip. Peter goes to Hawaii to try and get over his breakup, only to find out that Sarah is in Hawaii too. Now Peter really can't get over his breakup and is even more upset when he finds out that Sarah is dating and sleeping with (along with having been sleeping with) British singer Aldous Snow (played hilariously by Russell Brand).
Segel does a great job in his first leading role. Bell shows what she can handle playing an unlikeable character. Brand is flat out funny and I see a long career ahead of him. Mila Kunis does a great job playing a sweet hotel receptionist who Peter starts to have a thing for. There are also funny cameos by Frat Pack actors Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill.
Segel does a great job at being a screenwriter and director Nicholas Stoller does some good work at translation Segel's script to the screen. I look forward to seeing what else both Segel and Stoller can do.