Cashing in on success can be dangerous...Sarah Marshall proves it

Rating: 7/10 (28 April 2008)

Judd Apatow struck gold with the surprisingly witty and hilarious 40 Year Old Virgin and then managed to shock and make me roll in the aisles with Knocked Up but now he's rolling out his punches like everything he does is gold and that just isn't the case. His brand of comedy is pure shock value and you can't always say outrageously stupid, crude and shocking things and expect it to be funny. That being said Forgetting Sarah Marshall has a lot of memorable outrageous stupid lines but that is about as far as it goes. It doesn't have the slapstick lovable qualities that Virgin did and it certainly doesn't have the style or wit that Knocked Up had. It goes for something a little more shocking taking it a step further kind of like what was attempted with Superbad which most people loved and I thought it was just okay but it showed a downgrade in the Apatow comedy bit. I never saw Drillbit Taylor but from what I heard that one continued the downward spiral. I mean Forgetting Sarah Marshall's claim to fame was the fact that star and writer Jason Segel goes full frontal and believe me he does but I didn't find it funny or shocking but rather cheap and stupid. However it would appear as though people bought into it gathering the laughter in the back of the room.
I think part of the problem was the lead cast. Jason Segel was charming and funny as a bit character in Knocked Up but his transition to leading man doesn't quite work. He just doesn't seem to be right for the part and I couldn't help but continually think that Adam Sandler would have made this movie a million times better. He came across as cheesy and fake and it didn't work. Apatow films have this thing about pairing average or less than average looking dudes with beautiful women which I am all for but they have to have personality like Virgin's Steve Carell or Knocked Up's Seth Rogen. Segel can't carry a movie unfortunately. Kristen Bell is good as the love her or hate her former girlfriend and TV Star. She looks beautiful but her performance is kind of shallow which maybe reflects her character but her chemistry with Segel is lacking something. Mila Kunis looks beautiful as the eye candy and new love interest for Segel but her character is rather shallow too and she isn't supposed to be. She just doesn't get a lot of depth and I think she has the talent but they don't give her much and she doesn't have a lot of chemistry with Segel either...coincidence? Or bad lead casting? The supporting cast is good and not so good. I think the use of Jonah Hill who became an instant star following Superbad was a waste. He wasn't funny at all and he was annoying and got in the way. He stuck out like a sore thumb. I adore Paul Rudd's dry comedy and he is terrific in a sadly small role (maybe he should have taken lead.) But he is still funny. Davon McDonald is also quite amusing in a small role as the bartender. However there is an absolute scene stealer...his name is Russell Brand and he's an English comedian and he absolutely steals the show as sleazy but completely lovable rock star Aldous Snow. I mean the guy is kind of a creep and yet he is incredibly cool, and downright hilarious. I could watch this movie again and again JUST for him. He was awesome and had good chemistry with everyone including Kristen Bell. I would honestly recommend this movie just to watch him, he's awesome!!
I didn't dislike Forgetting Sarah Marshall...I just thought it was a very average story with some funny lines but a weak story, an even weaker romance, and tries far too hard to shock you into laughter. I think Apatow needs to take a step back and look at the true talent in his newfound troupe that he likes using (Rogen, Rudd, Segel, Hill) and find out who suits the best role and where. The point is it is pretty dumb and doesn't hold a lot, if any, wit or true comedy. Millions will see it but I foretell a downward spiral when it comes to the Apatow comedies and I think he needs to look for that special spark that endeared him to us in previous good films. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is as average as they come. 7/10