Forgetting Sarah Marshall doesn’t earn its emotional moments because nobody is breathing air in this film. Irritation seems to be their only purpose. None are more ridiculous than Peter. It’s nigh impossible to root for, much less identify, with such a wuss. Everybody prods him to do things, including Rachel. Peter begs his half-brother, Brian (Bill Hader) to help him get laid. Brian thinks so little of him that he doesn’t accompany him to Hawaii. Instead, he advises him through videoconferencing. Peter sobs in the fetal position not once, but several times, annoying other guests.
Blame the casting of Jason Segel for making Peter so loathsome. Segel doesn’t remotely look flabby. On an oceanside hike with Mila Kunis, he gasps for air. Come on. Segel is a 6'4" former high school basketball player. A jock like him must have the lungs of a whale. I imagine he could swim back to the hotel. The makeup and costume people tried to transform him into Seth Rogen, who normally plays these roles. But, no temporary lack of exercise or Rogen-dyed hair will make him truly slovenly.
As I write this review, I remind myself that the movie’s called Forgetting not Saving Sarah Marshall. But that’s not really a mistake. A well constructed film could have saved this great idea. A man gets dumped by his girlfriend then is forced to experience it up close every day. It happens all the time. The filmmakers made such a big mistake making the new guy a rock star. That’s no less stereotypical than making him a gym instructor, athlete, or corporate vice president. These are common in movies. Real life is just as painful as you’re dumped in favor of someone only slightly more successful than you. The obstacles may be simpler, but are harder to overcome.
Grade: D
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