What Do The Critics Say?

"The hero is unheroic and not good looking in the Hollywood mould, the location is exotic and the humour broad, with lots of sex jokes and sex action of the pumping kind. There are a few good lines and a few laughs and the crowd at my preview screening found even more than I did." Andrew L Urban URBANCINEFILE "Jason Segel lets it all hang out, and we love him for it!" Kevin N. Laforest MONTREAL FILM JOURNAL "Personally, I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard at the movies." Jeff Otto REELZ CHANNEL "Segel seems well on his way to becoming a worthy Apatow apprentice." Joshua Tyler CINEMABLEND "Sex and nudity are played for laughs, and they genuinely earn them -- not by shocking us, but by reminding us of the awkward hilarity of intimate relationships." Eric D. Snider ERICDSNIDER.COM "Between the climactic musical number that changes a horror classic forever, and at least 90 minutes of sustained laughter, what possible reason could you have to want to forget Sarah Marshall?" Erik Childress eFILMCRITIC "Writing and starring in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jason Segel gets emotionally naked. He bares his soul. Also, he lets us see his schlong. As Steve Martin said, comedy is not pretty." Kyle Smith KYLESMITH ONLINE "A hilarious movie, a brilliant deconstruction of the romantic comedy, a film that, assuming you have the appropriate sense of humor, will make you laugh out loud again and again." Bill Goodykoontz ARIZONA REPUBLIC

"Like the infamous pregnant bedroom scene in Knocked Up, Segel breaks down another sacred behind-closed-doors sex situation that no one likes to talk about, and ends up with a classic memorable moment." Eric Melin SCENE STEALERS "Finding humor in situations we've all been through, and a few that only haunt our worst nightmares, Jason Segel and Nick Stoller make their mark in the Apatow-verse with a very funny date movie." Edward Douglas COMINGSOON "An outrageously raunchy romp, another audience-pleaser from Judd Apatow, who stretches farcial, vulgar silliness into outright hilarity." Susan Granger SSG SYNDICATE "One of those can't-miss romantic comedies in that there's some sweet, sensitive, insightful stuff for the ladies -- but there's also plenty of raunchy comedy for the boys." Scott Weinberg CINEMATICAL "Adding fresh talent to his growing empire, Apathow, Hollywood's King of Comedy, has produced a charming film that uses the basic ingredients of his format but is not as outrageous or raunchy as his signature pieces." Emanuel Levy EMANUELLEVY.COM "Producer Judd Apatow looks to have scored another long-legged hit with Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Joe Leydon VARIETY "There's a lot to like in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It's a comedy energized by its imperfect and offbeat characters, prompting some wacky situations. It's like a breath of fresh air. I laughed at Peter's original self-loathing song and his Dracula puppet opera is wonderful." Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE

The Inside Story love — n. 1 deep affection or fondness. 2 sexual passion. 3 sexual relations. 4 a beloved one; sweetheart (often as a form of address). b colloq. form of address regardless of affection. 5 colloq. person of whom one is fond. 6 delight in; admire; greatly cherish. At least that's how the dictionary defines love. In reality, love is just a chemical reaction, triggered in two people whose pheromones have invaded each others territory and, having set off a chemical reaction in their brains will, if the brain declares so, soon find themselves gazing longingly into each others eyes, as their hearts beat faster, pumping blood into the nether-regions in anticipation of a good nights smooching, groping and unbridled sexual gymnastics, during which, both will hopefully reach orgasm at the same time. To many, this coupling is known as 'making love'. Wrong! No-one makes love. If it was that simple to 'make love', every supermarket would dedicate all their shelf space to products that guaranteed everyone would be making love. Sorry, the proper name for the act is procreation, and it's meant to guarantee the survival of the species. Come-on, let's face it, there are a lot of people out there doing the deed who aren't in love, so obviously it can't be called making love. Austin Powers would describe it as 'shagadelic baby'. The dictionary describes shag as: course slang meaning, to have sexual intercourse. Put a hundred people in a room, ask them what love is and you'll hear a hundred answers. Analyze those answers and you'll find a lot of common ground. Here's something to ponder! Before the invention of Viagra, many people who no longer 'made love', were able to sustain their relationship because they were still, 'in love'. While science and dictionaries define a lot of things 'about love' and 'making love', love itself is still a great mystery. The one thing many of us have experienced is the heart-break that follows a breakup with someone we love. For many it's almost like a death has occured. The one we loved is no longer there. Just like a death, the 'breakup' hits hard. None more-so than when a partner reveals they've been disloyal. When that situation raises its ugly head people are instantly categorized. Men are often refered to as "that two-timing, cheating bastard" while women are refered to as 'the filthy slut' (or worse). Cruelly, while one person is usually left in a state of shock, racked by guilt and tortured by cherished memories of all the good times shared, the other person is getting on with their life by 'making love' day and night to their new 'love'. Now somewhere in all that you'll see there's a story. That story is called, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "a comedy about getting dumped and taking it like a man." Did I mention it's from the guys who brought you "Knocked Up" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin"? Several years ago, Jason Segel ("Slackers") had discussed with Judd Apatow, his interest in writing and starring in a comedy about the brutal heartbreak caused by a woman who had crushed a hopeful romantic’s spirit and abandoned their future. Segel believed there was comedy to be found in not only a couple’s time together, but in stories of the many bad things that happen after a relationship conceivably ends. "I had to cut my first draft down to a hundred and twenty pages," he said, "because originally it was two thousand." During a courtside conversation at a Lakers game, Segel told Apatow the idea. Apatow provided Segel with direction and guidance, and the first-time screenwriter set about writing a draft screenplay. Segel recounts, "Judd said to me, 'If you can improv the way you do, then you can also write.' And here we are making a movie together." While obviously impressed enough by the actor’s past performances to keep hiring him, Apatow admits he was surprised when Segel handed him a finished script and asked him for his notes. "Jason went away to Hawaii, and he actually wrote a hilarious script. From the get-go, everyone was shocked at just how good it was," Apatow recalls. "He is just so funny as a guy desperately in love, jealous and insane." Shauna Robertson, Apatow’s producing partner on the company’s hits "The 40 Year Old Virgin", "Knocked Up" and "Superbad", was equally impressed with the work of the first-time screenwriter. Robertson, who worked with Will Ferrell on "Elf" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" recounts, "Jason’s quite a prolific writer. We were really excited about the script." She recalls jokingly saying at the time, "If you can come up with a movie where I can wear flip-flops all the time, I’m in." Apatows response was, "Pack your bags, you’re going to Hawaii." At the same time, Nicholas Stoller, who co-wrote "Fun With Dick and Jane", was searching for a script with which he could make his feature film directorial debut. Stoller was given a copy of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall and was impressed enough by the draft to work with Segel over the course of a year and a half. "Nick and Jason get along great and share the same sense of humor," Apatow revealed. "They had both been destroyed by women in the past, which is helpful. Actually, that has been a requirement for everyone who works on the movie. People who have had their hearts trampled on understand the material." Surprised at being given the opportunity to have a movie made from his first attempt at a full screenplay, Segel laughingly says, "Somehow, Universal gave us millions of dollars to make this film and to exorcise my demons from bad relationships." With a screenplay that the producers, the director and leading man were comfortable with, it was time to find a cast of characters that could wreak havoc on a tropical island. The filmmakers would turn to a former teenage P.I.; a seventies stoner; a British shock jock and, some tried and true Apatow players. From the first "action" to the final "cut", Stoller felt there would be much flexibility for takes during production of the film. For everyone, the best comic takes would trump all. Not surprising, as the daily call sheets included character names for supporting cast such as 'Potty Mouth Girl', 'Blonde Screaming Girlfriend' and 'Tantrum Kid'. For example, in the original script, when Sarah is breaking up with Peter, he is naked, then he gets dressed. "We thought it would be much funnier if Peter was naked the whole scene during the entire breakup," says the director. "And besides, Jason likes to get naked." The casting process began as Segel and the filmmakers searched for the perfect woman to play the title character. 2005 Satellite Award winner Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") was cast on the spot after her audition as Sarah, self-indulgent television star of hit procedural show "Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime." "Her Sarah Marshall and Jason’s Peter Bretter had great chemistry," says Apatow. "Her shutdown nature and sarcasm were really funny against his puppy-dog vulnerability. They made an interesting, horrible, funny couple." Bell ("Spartan" & "Deep Water") says she was sold by her co-star’s screenplay. "Most romantic comedies tend to be very predictable, but there is a reality to this script. Jason wrote a very three dimensional story. Everybody is trying the best they can, and you can see all sides of every situation." "Kristen was the right person to play Sarah Marshall because you have to, at moments, love her and other times be disgusted by her," says Robertson ("Meet The Parents"). "Kristen can play both and have you glued to the screen either way, laughing out loud." Three time Young Hollywood Award winner Mila Kunis was cast to play Rachel Jansen, the woman who helps him finally "get out his head." Stoller recalls, "For both of our leading ladies, we knew they were the ones from their auditions. We saw hundreds of women, but their two faces remained in our heads during the entire casting process." What was it that drew Kunis ("That '70s Show") to the role? "Jason’s honesty is so sweet, on screen and off, and he is no fool as a writer. He has sex scenes with like ten different women in the film." When he came in for his audition, the filmmakers didn’t know what to make of 2006 British Comedy Award winner and UK based stand-up comedian, Russell Brand. None of the crew was familiar with Brand’s work, and Stoller told the actor to be loose with the script, improvising whenever he wished. "When Russell began to speak, it was literally the funniest riff I have heard." Brand ("Penelope" & "St Trinian's") says he was comfortable with the comedy improv, right from the go. "When I do stand-up comedy shows, I improvise generally for the first hour and it keeps things very organic and fresh. I felt very comfortable with this improvisational vibe on set." Amongst the comedic highlights of the film is one involving Peter jumping off a cliff located at Laie Point on the North Shore of Oahu. The crew found it extremely funny because in real life, Jason Segel suffers from acrophobia (from the Greek "acron", height + "phobos"), a fear of heights. 'We have this fantastic take on film of Peter being terrified, because Jason was terrified as he clung to the rocks," Stoller remembers. "He was a real trouper as he was strapped to the side of this cliff, amidst the shrubbery, for about six hours." "This is the moment in my life I realized I am a total coward," Segel recalls, "as children were leaping off the cliff around me." Stunt coordinator Tim Trella ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" & "Titanic") recalls after the scene was shot, Segel yelled to the crew that he "would get back at them in their next life." Synopsis

Peter is a struggling musician who has spent nearly six years idolizing his girlfriend, television star Sarah Marshall. He is the guy left holding her purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from her acceptance award speeches. But Peter’s world is rocked when he finds himself all alone after she dumps him for tragically hip British-rocker Aldous Snow. After an unsuccessful bout of womanizing and an on the job nervous breakdown, all of which are compounded by his belief that not having Sarah in his life may ruin him forever, Peter partially comes to his senses. To clear his head, he takes an impulsive trip to Oahu, where he is confronted by his worst nightmare: his ex and her randy, rock star boyfriend, are staying at the same luxury hotel he's just arrived at. Receptionist Rachel takes pity on him and offers him a suite at no cost. Unfortunately, it's right next door to Sarah and Aldous.

The Verdict "By now, cinemagoers know what to expect from Judd Apatow and Jason Segel. Or do they? After seeing "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" they'll probably agrEe that on this occassion, the latter applies. The two loveable larakins of comedy films, bless their hearts, have really gone all out to top their previous marks for laughter and 'naughtiness'. The feedback on their latest production has all been good. Very good. The laughs keep coming thick and fast starting with the break up. The preview audience I sat in with shrieked with laughter and it only got better and funnier the longer "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" went. This is the funniest collection of one-liners you've heard, since the great Bob Hope started his career, It will keep you in stitches, even when they're trying to be serious. It's so funny that each screening should be preceeded by a warning: If the person seated next to you stops laughing, call for a paramedic. Highly recommended for all those who can remember the the heartache of breaking up. More than a date movie! 4 1/2 STARS." Who's Who?

Jason Segel Kristen Bell Mila Kunis Russell Brand Bill Hader Liz Cackowski Maria Thayer Jack McBrayer Da'Vone McDonald Steve Landesberg Jonah Hill Paul Rudd Kala Alexander Kirk Fox Carla Gallo Tanisha Harper Peter Gray Lewis June Raphael Brittany Ross

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Peter Sarah Marshall Rachel Jansen Aldous Snow Brian Bretter Liz Bretter Wyoma Darald Dwayne the Bartender Dr Rosenbaum Matthew the Waiter Chuck Greg Mixer Gag Me Girl Model Suspect on Animal Instincts Ann at the Bar Screaming Girlfriend

Run Time 111 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2008 - Universal Pictures International - All Rights Reserved ©2008 All Rights Reserved - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.