The fact that Apatow and Co. own the last few summers is something very pleasing to me, since I've been a fan of his since the "Ben Stiller Show" days. I always felt his style of humor was underappreciated and overlooked and "before his time".
After seeing the last few films he's been involved with, whether it be writing, directing or producing, I think I understand now why his shows failed and his movies prevailed. With a TV show, you are trying to reach a "TV audience". A TV audience doesn't go out of its way for characters or story, it has to be there for them already. There's very little thought in developing a good TV program--that's why there are so many about lawyers and cops. It's easy money. When you create shows about freaks, geeks, potheads, or dormroom losers, you can't expect the show to last long--especially on network TV.
With the film industry, it's a bit different. The audience has to go out of their way for you, so you have to present something that will entice them--something with a twist, something different--even if it's a story we've all seen before. A movie about a break-up, for instance.
But with what Apatow has done in the last 3 years is build that audience, so that now he doesn't have to go for anything cutesy anymore storyline wise. The last two films he's been involved with were basically the "American Pie" of this generation, and now, your average romantic comedy about a boy and girl who breakup and still have to deal with each other.
But Apatow, unlike other filmmakers who become lazy in success, doesn't let up on the pedal. Jason Segel, who worked with Apatow obviously in "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared" years ago, wrote the script and stars in a film so honestly funny and even at times heartbreaking, it's refreshing to know there are producers out there who can still give you a romantic comedy with a heart. That's what brings this movie together, and that's what Apatow's trademark has been. There's just something...very cute and endearing about every one of his films.
Segel, like Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill and Steve Carrell, has such a disarming charm about him that you can not only see why he's chosen as a leading man, but you can see why a good looking girl would like him. And what do all of these guys have in common, by the way? They're not immediately handsome. They're not Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt--but they are leading man material. And the genius eye of Judd Apatow knows that. And that's why I love him, and that's why I love his movies.
This film, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", offers nothing new in the way of storytelling--it is really a basic story about a guy and a girl who break up and have to literally live with the breakup because they both find themselves vacationing in the same hotel in the same state, Hawaii. The paradise of Hawaii obviously conflicts with the hell of being stuck around your ex-girlfriend, especially when she's around her new hunk boyfriend. And so our hero has to live through every sulking, cry-baby moment until he finally meets someone that helps him forget about these painful memories and current events (like seeing his ex making out with the new boyfriend). And of course, this woman is beautiful, and she's cute, and she LIKES him.
Segel impressed me as a writer in this film, and I already knew he was a very underrated actor (and musician). The reason he impressed me is the way he handled the characters. They do feel very real, and even the characters who provide nothing but comic relief (his stepbrother, and Jonah Hill's "obsessed fanboy" character) seem like people you've known or people you'd definitely meet sometime in your life. He also understands the rules of affection when it comes to girls, and the icky situations that can lead to awkwardness and just uncomfortable pain.
This is also a very, very funny movie. There is nary a scene where you're not laughing about something. There are some BIG laughs, but there are a lot of little laughs too, coming from side gags (like scenes from "Crime Scene", the show that Sarah Marshall stars in) or some remark someone makes or even a facial expression. Also, stick around a few minutes after the credits start. Trust me, it's worth it. Sarah Marshall stars in another show that actually looks like it was probably a real show on NBC at some time, or would be a green lit show coming soon to a lineup in the fall.
There were some problems in the film and some unresolved things that do take away from making this a "perfect" film--but its imperfections are forgiven by its entertainment value, and its heart. The one thing that I would say is an unfortunate trend in Apatow's movies is that they always seem about 5-7 minutes too long, and this film suffers the same fate. It's almost like they don't want to turn the camera off at times when it's really a better idea to go to something else. And I'm sure when this comes out in its "Unrated DVD" version, it'll seem 10-12 minutes too long. But I don't know what else they could put in this movie to make it more raunchy than it already was. I hope it wouldn't mean more nudeness of Jason Segel.
All in all, this is worth the trip to the movies, and guys can feel secure that this is one "date movie" in which both parties will be satisfied, and you can walk out of that theatre both entertained and feel like your love is reinforced. Unless she breaks up with you later...
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