Review of Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) by Stefano C — 15 Apr 2018

Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring Jason Segel and Kristen Bell and released in 2008, came at the height of Judd Apatow's reign over R-rated romantic comedies, and is perhaps the peak of this movement. The film remains heartfelt and sincere the whole way through, without losing any of the hilariously uncomfortable moments and unusual characters.

The film was directed by Nicholas Stoller, produced by Judd Apatow, and, notably, written by Jason Segel. It's clearly a very personal story for Segel and his personal connection to the film is its greatest strength. The scene in which Peter is broken up with while naked and Peter's love for puppets were both taken directly from Segel's life, and both were ingeniously used to create an airtight structure (with parallels between the first and last scenes) and to illustrate Peter's growth throughout the film.

One thing this film does so well is navigating between emotionally fraught interactions and deeply funny moments. One particularly well-constructed sequence comes midway through the second act when Peter finally begins to get his self-confidence back. As he is out surfing he runs into Aldous Snow, his ex girlfriend's new boyfriend. Their conversation is sweet yet uncomfortable in the way only a conversation between two people in this type of relationship can be. In a complete shift of tone, the scene evolves into a hilariously outrageous scenario as Peter tries to help Aldous who now has coral embedded in his leg, all the while interacting with the incompetent Chuck (played by Paul Rudd). Again, the very next scene has a full shift in tone as Peter emotionally confronts his ex girlfriend Sarah. The scene is one of the most serious of the film, yet is still riveting and fits perfectly. Where other films may give the viewer whiplash with this back-and-forth, this film successfully uses these types of successive sequences to keep the viewer engaged and entertained.

Although this film is certainly most relatable to viewers whose relationships have recently ended, I would highly recommend this film to those in any stage of a relationship as there are parts of this film for everyone; Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of those rare romantic comedies where both the comedy and the subject remain relevant for people at every stage of their lives.