Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Infobox Film
name = Forgetting Sarah Marshall


caption = Theatrical poster
director = Nicholas Stoller
producer = Judd Apatow
Shauna Robertson
Rodney Rothman
writer = Jason Segel
starring = Jason Segel
Kristen Bell
Mila Kunis
Russell Brand
Bill Hader
Paul Rudd
Liz Cackowski
Jonah Hill
music = Lyle Workman
cinematography = Russ T. Alsobrook
editing = William Kerr
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = April 18, 2008
runtime = Theatrical Cut:
111 min.
Unrated Cut:
118 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget = $30,000,000
gross = $101,474,500
website = http://www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com
amg_id = A402090
imdb_id = 0800039

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is a 2008 American romantic comedy film from Universal Pictures directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Jason Segel. The film was produced by Judd Apatow and stars Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand. It was released theatrically on April 18, 2008 in the United States and Canada, and on April 23, 2008 in the United Kingdom. The home video release was on September 30, 2008 in the United States on DVD, 3-disc Unrated Collector's Edition DVD, Blu-ray Hi-Def disc and as a digital download.

Much of the film was filmed and takes place at the Turtle Bay Resort, located on the North Shore of the Island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Plot

Composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) has spent five years adoring his girlfriend, television star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He has had success for composing the theme song and score of her highly-rated -type crime drama show "Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime". While writing a Dracula musical called "A Taste for Love", he's the guy left holding her purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from acceptance award speeches. Things take a twist when she breaks up with him right after he assumes she wants to come over for sex, and he suddenly finds himself alone. Trying to get over her, he has one-night stands with various women, but besides being terrified of getting an STD, all this does is increase his stress and heartache. After an on-the-job nervous breakdown, he sees that not having Sarah may just ruin his life.

At the suggestion of his step-brother Bryan (Bill Hader), Peter takes an impulsive trip to Hawaii to clear his head, and is confronted by his worst nightmare: Sarah and her narcissistic new British-rocker boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) who are staying at the Turtle Bay Resort. After Rachel (Mila Kunis), the sympathetic receptionist, watches the painful meeting she gives Peter a free stay at the top end $6,000 per night suite on the condition that he clean up after himself. In a twist of irony, Snow tries and eventually manages to make friends with Peter, while Sarah initially and wrongly suspects he's stalking her. As he torments himself with the reality of Sarah's new life, he finds relief when talking with Rachel, whose laid-back approach tempts him to rejoin the world. Although they bond and get along well, she is also reluctant to move on, because she too has been recovering from a recent heartbreak. Peter becomes friends with many of the hotel staffers and, along with Snow, also offers advice to a devout newlywed named Darald (Jack McBrayer), a Mormon who is having trouble with satisfying his new wife, Wyoma's (Maria Thayer) sexual appetite. Things take a turn for the worse when Peter is asked to vacate his suite and given a room next door to Sarah and Aldous.

Throughout the film, Peter has flashbacks which reveal the negative aspects of his old relationship, which he mostly ignored or was completely oblivious to, while Sarah remembers many of the good things she hadn't appreciated before. It is made known that she cheated on him with Aldous for about a year without him knowing, but after they break up, she now realizes that she wants him back, even more so when her relationship with Aldous fizzles and he leaves her, giving Peter a warmer farewell than Sarah. Her desperation increases when her show is canceled and she fears her name being forgotten, while wishing to keep the ounce of dignity many actresses like her don't have. In the end, when Peter comes to comfort her for her loss, she begs him to take her back. Though he is initially reluctant, they have a brief physical encounter that Peter cuts short, realizing he cannot get an erection because he is not attracted to her anymore because of years of enduring her repulsive and calculating behaviors. Deciding that she is not worth it if she didn't love him before, he tells her off, calling her the Devil as he leaves. Peter then decides to stay true to Rachel and divulges what happened between him and Sarah moments before, but it backfires – an enraged Rachel tells him to never speak to her again. Before he leaves the hotel, Peter wordlessly hands Rachel a topless photo of herself; it had been put in a local bar's wall collage by her nasty ex-boyfriend and Peter endured a beating from the bar's tough-guy owner to get the photo back to Rachel. When Peter returns home he finally finishes writing his vampire rock opera over a course of personal reflection that allows him to fully recover from his breakup. On its opening night, Rachel shows up, having been convinced by all the staff members Peter befriended at the hotel, and in the end both reconcile their differences and move on to further their relationship.

A post-credits scene shows that Sarah later managed to get a job similar to her previous character on another crime drama called "Animal Instincts" which has Sarah starring as an animal psychic police officer.

Cast

*Jason Segel as Peter Bretter
*Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall
*Mila Kunis as Rachel Jansen
*Russell Brand as Aldous Snow
*Bill Hader as Brian Bretter
*Liz Cackowski as Liz Bretter
*Maria Thayer as Wyoma
*Jack McBrayer as Darald
*Jonah Hill as Matthew the Waiter
*Paul Rudd as Chuck
*Alejandro Anzaldua as Jack Fire
*Jason Bateman as Animal Instincts Detective
*William Baldwin as Billy Baldwin / Det. Hunter Rush

Release and reception

In its opening weekend, the film grossed $17.7 million in 2,798 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #2 at the box office behind "The Forbidden Kingdom", and averaging $6,335 per theater in the US and per theatre in Canada. [cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=forgettingsarahmarshall.htm |title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) - Weekend Box Office Results |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Box Office Mojo] It opened behind other Apatow productions such as "Superbad", "Knocked Up", "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", and "Talladega Nights"cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Producer&id=juddapatow.htm |title=Judd Apatow Movie Box Office Results |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Box Office Mojo] , but ahead of his recent films "Walk Hard" and "Drillbit Taylor". [cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=drillbittaylor.htm |title=Drillbit Taylor (2008) - Weekend Box Office Results |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Box Office Mojo]

As of July 9, 2008, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" has grossed an estimated total of $100.3 million worldwide - $62.9 million in North America and $38.5 million in other territories. [cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/FSMAR.php |title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall |accessdate=2008-08-02 |publisher=The Numbers]

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" has received positive reviews from numerous critics. As of April 23, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 85% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 132 reviews - with the consensus being that the film "finds just the right mix of romantic and raunchy comedy." [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/forgetting_sarah_marshall/ |title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 67 out of 100, based on 37 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/forgettingsarahmarshall |title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Reviews |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Metacritic]

Matt Pais of the "Chicago Tribune" said it's "the kind of movie you could watch all day because, like a new flame, you can't get enough of its company and are just glad to see where it takes you." [ [http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/forgetting-sarah-marshall/379893/content Forgetting Sarah Marshall | Metromix Chicago ] ] Richard Roeper highly praised the film for its laugh-out-loud moments as well as its worthiness to be an instant classic and went as far as to say he would put it on his list of 50 favorite comedies of all time. [ [http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/ebertandroeper/index2.html?sec=1&subsec=5716 Ebert & Roeper review of Forgetting Sarah Marshall] ]

Other positive reviews come from "Entertainment Weekly" who gave the film a B+ and applauded "Jason Segel's riff on varieties of male bewilderment," [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/18/ew.forgetting/ EW review: Remember 'Sarah Marshall' - CNN.com ] ] and Mick LaSalle of the "San Francisco Chronicle"', who wrote "Segel's breakthrough movie, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", deserves to ride the wave of the latest, hottest micro-trend in pictures: the romantic comedy for guys."cite web |url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/18/DDKP106M50.DTL |title= Movie review: He can't forget 'Sarah Marshall' |author= Mick LaSalle |work= San Francisco Chronicle |date= April 18, 2008 |quote= ]

Home video release

The DVD and Blu-ray Disc was released on September 30, 2008 in a single-disc DVD edition, a three-disc collector's DVD edition, a two-disc Blu-ray edition, and the Ultimate Unrated Comedy Collection containing the collectors' editions of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", and "Knocked Up" on either DVD or Blu-ray Disc. The title will also be released on various electronic download services.It was released on DVD in Australia (region 4) on August 20, in a single and 2-Disc Unforgettable Edition.

Video on Demand release

[http://www.universalvod.net/movies/forgetting-sarah-marshall/index.php Forgetting Sarah Marshall] is available for on demand viewing November 13 2008 from Universal VOD

oundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Original Soundtrack
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Various Artists


Released = April 15, 2008
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Original Soundtrack
(2008)
Next album =

The soundtrack of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was released on April 15, 2008
#"Love You Madly" by Cake
#"We've Got to Do Something" by Infant Sorrow
#"You Can't Break A Heart and Have It" by­ Black Francis
#"Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" by­ Belle & Sebastian
#"More Than Words" by Aloha Sex Juice
#"Dracula's Lament" by Jason Segel
#"Inside of You" by Infant Sorrow
#"Fucking Boyfriend" by The Bird And The Bee
#"Intensified" by Desmond Dekker
#"Nothing Compares 2 U" by­ The Coconutz
#"Baby" by Os Mutantes
#"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by The Coconutz
#"A Taste for Love" by Forgetting Sarah Marshall Cast
#"Secret Sun" by Jesse Harris
#"Everybody Hurts" by­ The Coconutz
#"Animal instincts" by The Transcenders featuring J7 D'Star

Awards/nominations

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was nominated for 5 awards for the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, though it did not win any awards. The nominations were:
*Movie, Breakout Female: Kristen Bell
*Movie, Breakout Female: Mila Kunis
*Movie, Breakout Male: Jason Segel
*Movie, Romantic Comedy
*Movie, Actress Comedy: Kristen Bell

pin-off

A week after the release of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", Universal Pictures announced a new film "Get Him to the Greek", reteaming Jonah Hill and Russell Brand with writer/director Nicholas Stoller and producer Judd Apatow.cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984458.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 |title=Apatow, Stoller speak 'Greek' |author= Siegel, Tatiana |accessdate=2008-07-31 |publisher=Variety] "Variety" initially announced the project would focus on "fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster (Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.'s Greek Theater." In July 2008, Brand mentioned that he would be reprising his Aldous Snow role from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", in a new film from Apatow in which the character was back on drugs.cite web |url= http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4WQuQThWvVjsp-T8yPxi4mGCBKg |title= Brand's Booky Wook not a Filmy Wilm |author= |work= The Press Association |date= July 7 2008 |quote= ] In an interview with "CHUD.com", Apatow would later reveal that "Get Him to the Greek" was indeed a spin-off of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" with Brand again playing a no-longer-sober Aldous Snow, but did not state whether or not Jonah Hill would be playing a different role. cite web |url= http://chud.com/articles/articles/15745/1/SPINNING-OFF-FROM-SARAH-MARSHALL/Page1.html |title= SPINNING OFF FROM SARAH MARSHALL |author= Faraci, Devin |work= [http://www.chud.com Cinematic Happenings Under Development] |date= July 29 2008 |quote= ]

References

External links

* [http://www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com Official site]
*imdb title|id=0800039|title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall
*amg movie|id=1:402090|title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall
*mojo title|id=forgettingsarahmarshall|title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall
*rotten-tomatoes|id=forgetting_sarah_marshall|title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall
*metacritic film|id=forgettingsarahmarshall|title=Forgetting Sarah Marshall
* [http://movies.about.com/od/forgettingsarahmarshall/ "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"] at About.com
* [http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/FSMAR.php "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"] at The Numbers
* [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809859459/video/5586261 Trailer] at Yahoo!
* [http://forgettingsarahmarshall.com/restricted/ Restricted trailer]
* [http://www.the-frat-pack.com/reviews/fsm-setvisit.html Set Visit and Text/Audio Interview with the Stars]

;Fictional websites created for the film
* [http://www.nbc.com/Crime_Scene "Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime" show-within-a-film page on NBC website]
* [http://www.sarahmarshallfan.com/ Sarah Marshall Fan]
* [http://www.ihatesarahmarshall.com/ ihatesarahmarshall]
* [http://www.myspace.com/officialinfantsorrow Infant Sorrow band MySpace]