Day 8 - Forgetting Sarah Marshall

First Impressions:

A veritable smorgasboard of some of my favourite comedians: Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Kristen Bell, Jason Segel!


"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is a 4:3 rom:com split.

I loved Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime and Aldous' band Infant Sorrow.  Obvious but hilarious parodies of CSI and I'm going to say...U2.  During the trailers Sarah Marshall is featured with Jason Bateman in a CSI-esque show called Animal Instincts in which Sarah Marshall can psychically communicate with animals to solve crimes.  I wish that was a real show.  I also wish I had a huge bowl of cereal.  One of these things I can make a reality this evening.

Personal Reflections:

"Life's a bitch and where you're going, that's what you'll be."

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" has been carefully crafted as the perfect post-break-up movie.  The first hysterical hour of the film has you forget about your own sorrows because you're too busy laughing.  The last 30 minutes is about wrapping up loose ends and pontificating the freedom that comes from a break-up.

Creatively, Peter has been rejuvenated.  He is given validation and encouragement from Rachel (Mila Kunis) to work on his Dracula puppet show where Sarah did not get it nor see any point in going forward with it.  Similarly, Rachel says she's not the kind of girl he needs to dote on while with Sarah he stood around clutching her purses while she was photographed at award ceremonies.  Peter ends up being happier and better off.  I half-expected them to get back together, especially when he's comforting her after Aldous leaves.  I'm glad they didn't.

Although he did not choose to break up with Sarah Marshall and he suffered in the worst way possible (I think with most break-ups it's easier to create some distance than the circumstances in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"), his life got better and it will for you too!  Hold strong.

A special kudos to Mila Kunis who appeared in "Friends with Benefits", yesterday's feature.  She plays the cool dream-girl effortlessly.  She is absolutely gorgeous yet she is able to project approachability and affability.  Rachel is the kind of girl you can have fun with: who knows when to out-moan Sarah Marshall next door, who isn't clingy and doesn't ask 'where is this relationship going'.

Rom-Com Tropes:

1. The bad boy/rock-star.
2. The vacation ended with multiple weddings, though none of the main characters.
3. The one is out there waiting for you.  Don't settle.

Soundtrack:

Some very chill Hawaiian tunes, Infant Sorrow ("Sodomize Ignorance") and songs created for the movie by Jason Segel.  Having more of a com than rom influence, there is no unambiguously upbeat pop song to convince us this was a good movie.

 


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