City Chick Magazine

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall was a romantic disaster comedy that was everything but, forgettable. Despite the title, this is a light date movie staring Jason Segel (CBS's How I Met Your Mother), Kristen Bell (UPN's Veronica Mars), Mila Kunis (FOX's That 70's Show) and an entertaining appearance by Paul Rudd (NBC's Friends).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall was created by the makers of Knocked Up and The Forty Year Old Virgin and co-written by Jason Segel. The movie is unforgettable not because of its intelligent comedic appeal (I LOL'ed a lot throughout). However, I was traumatized by the graphic nudity at the beginning of the plot. Just when I thought I was over "it," the makers felt they needed to close the film with "it" again.

During the film you are rooting for the gentle giant, Peter. There's the disturbing breakup with his superstar actress girlfriend, Sarah Marshall. Then, he takes a lone trip to Hawaii to take his mind off of his unceremonious breakup, only to find himself on the same island and at the same hotel with his ex and her new rock star boyfriend, Aldous (Russell Brand). You feel sorry for him as he continuously encounters their new love. It's hilariously pathetic, at times.

What takes Forgetting Sarah Marshall from a disaster into a romantic comedy, is Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis). She becomes Peter's cheerleader (metaphorically). If you are an optimist (like me), you will see Rachel as more than a diversion. She takes his mind off of his ex and encourages him to be proactive in his life.

The execution of the film was satisfactory. The hilarity was achieved in the fact that the majority of the film's supporting characters were very peculiar and the main characters were appealing. Jason Segel was adorable (in a masculine way, sometimes), Kristen Bell was authentic, Russell Brand was ideally eccentric and Mila Kunis was simply charming.

This movie could be an excellent catalyst to help anyone and everyone "forget" their own versions of Sarah Marshall. The humor lightly camouflages a very important lesson. Don't loose yourself in a relationship. Don't allow a breakup to put you in a pathetic state of existence. If you believe in rainbows, unicorns and fate you will see that Peter's breakup was meant to happen. He was meant to go to Hawaii and meet a young lady that would help open his eyes and heart to new things.

I wouldn't call it a must-see, but I was entertained. I sat through the entire film, laughed out loud a lot and I didn't ask for my money back. Guys will enjoy the (sometimes Neanderthal) humor and gals will enjoy the romantic elements. Perfect formula for a light date movie.

Quiana Nichol

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