Aug 20, 2019
Hi everyone!
Welcome back to another Takeover Tuesday, and welcome back our returning hosts from the How I Met Your Friends podcast. They’ll be reviewing another Apatow Production this week, but from about ten years before “Juliet, Naked” (Episode #567), which I was forced to review because a certain One Movie Spouse became a patron at patreon.com/onemoviepunch. It was a whole thing. And for one more from Apatow Productions, check out “The Big Sick” (Episode #007), which is probably the best romantic comedy I’ve ever seen.
Are you interested in doing a guest review here at One Movie Punch? Head over to onemoviepunch.com/takeover-tuesday and read up more on the process, then reach out to us using the provided form or over social media to find out about guesting. We’d love to have you on the show, and you’ll get access to our growing audience and be able to run your promo before the review. We have a limited number of slots open each quarter, so be sure to contact us as soon as possible. And if you do well enough, you just might be asked to join the ranks of the One Movie Punch crew.
Before the review, we’ll have a promo for the How I Met Your Friends podcast. Be sure to check out their latest episode entitled “The One With A Lot of Bad Acting”, covering one episode of each show, with the usual fun insight of Julie and Kathleen. Connect with them on Twitter @himyfriendspod and on Facebook and Instagram @howimetyourfriendspod. And if you like either show, you’ll definitely love their show.
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Here we go!
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Today’s movie is “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008), the comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Jason Segel. Almost a dozen years later, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” still delivers side-splitting laughs, with a great ensemble cast. Jason Segel should write more comedies.
This review contains spoilers.
Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) dumps Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) and admits to him that she’s seeing someone new. On the advice of his step-brother Brian (Bill Hader), Peter jets to Hawaii, being reminded of Sarah on the plane, and immediately seeing her upon checking into the hotel. He also learns that her new beau is Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Peter hits it off with hotel employee Rachel (Mila Kunis). After a few adventures with Rachel, as a friend, they finally smooch. Immediately after, Peter is forced to room next to Aldous and Sarah. Sarah starts to wonder if she shouldn’t have dumped Peter, and after a terrible double date dinner, she and Aldous break up. Sarah tries to get back together with Peter, which implodes his budding relationship with Rachel, and everyone heads back to the mainland. Peter finishes his musical and Rachel flies to LA to see it, where they reconnect.
Among the humor, is a really poignant story about what is really happening on each side of their relationship. Peter thinks Sarah wanted him to be Hollywood, and Sarah thought she was helping Peter become a better person. When Peter and Sarah finally sit down and talk, they both realize that they’ve been unhappy, for various reasons, and didn’t have good communication. We both love this movie, and agree that it does hold up, over a decade after release. Aldous Snow is a complete douche, while still providing laughs, and we are both pretty sure Russell Brand was given the greenlight for some excellent improv.
Beyond the core dynamic of Peter and Sarah, the ensemble cast is amazing, with cameos from SNL’s Kristen Wiig, and great performances from everyone’s favorite Paul Rudd, who never ages. And “Hawaii Five-O”’s Taylor Wily as Kemo, who steals a scene when he asks Peter if those are happy tissues or sad tissues. And Bill Hader, who plays the straight man to Segel’s doofus, especially when he threatens Peter for saying Sarah is better than Liz, Brian’s wife. And Jonah Hill has some R-rated one liners that are worth a 10-second rewind.
Setting a movie in Hawaii, a literal paradise, plays well with how uncomfortable Peter and Sarah are to be near each other after their breakup. With constant weddings in the background of scenes, and Peter finally screaming at one for their lack of originality, it’s as if the Hawaiian resort is another character.
We picked this movie because of its connection to “How I Met Your Mother”, with Jason Segel playing Marshall Eriksen on the show. We can’t help but wonder about the use of Marshall for Sarah’s last name. Segel plays a great lovable goofball who is also a talented musician and composer. Much like his character on HIMYM, who is constantly writing and singing songs.
This movie has aged well and might be one we need to purchase on DVD, unless Kathleen can find her copy.
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is hilarious movie that we think deserves a resurgence and many viewings in the years to come.
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% (CERTIFIED FRESH)
Metacritic: 67
One Movie Punch: 10/10
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) is rated R and is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu, and Google Play!