Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

84% of critics liked it
(178 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(600,033 ratings)

In desperate need of a vacation after being unceremoniously dumped by his TV-star girlfriend, a man travels to a lavish Hawaiian resort to nurse his wounds and forget his heartache, only to discover that his ex and her handsome new boyfriend are currently staying at the exact same island hot spot.… More In desperate need of a vacation after being unceremoniously dumped by his TV-star girlfriend, a man travels to a lavish Hawaiian resort to nurse his wounds and forget his heartache, only to discover that his ex and her handsome new boyfriend are currently staying at the exact same island hot spot. Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) may be just another struggling musician, but for the past six years he's been dating Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), one of the hottest stars on television. Sarah is everything in the world to Peter, so when she kindly but firmly tells him that they should each go their separate ways, he is absolutely devastated. Later, after attempting to salvage his ego by awkwardly attempting to become a womanizer and nearly losing his job because of a nervous breakdown, an emotionally fragile Peter attempts to put the past behind him by escaping to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu. While at first it seems as if Peter has discovered the perfect prescription for a bad case of lost love, his plan soon turns to dust when Sarah and her new rock-star boyfriend, Aldous (Russell Brand), turn up at the exact same resort. Though accepting Sarah's lavish new lifestyle won't be easy for the crestfallen Peter, the laid-back companionship of flirtatious resort employee Rachel (Mila Kunis) -- not to mention a continuous regimen of fruity cocktails -- goes a long way in mending the wounds of a broken heart. Forgetting Sarah Marshall was penned by Segel and produced by Judd Apatow. Fun with Dick and Jane screenwriter Nicholas Stoller makes his directorial debut. The cast also includes Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Jack McBrayer, and Jonah Hill. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: Nicholas Stoller
Written By: Jason Segel
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 10, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Oct 5, 2008
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello, NPR.org
With pratfalls, yucks, a crying jag, and what is starting to seem like the requisite flash of nudity, Jason Segel becomes this year's adorably hapless movie schlub.
Joe Baltake, Passionate Moviegoer
'Forgetting Sarah Foster': Judd Apatow's Latest Dick Flick
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Jason Segel has what Nicolas Cage and Gene Wilder and a precious handful of other witty actors have: The ability to make egregious humiliation and painful neediness a source of limitless mirth.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Halfway through I realized that I'd lost most of my standards, maybe under my seat, and was enjoying the erratic evolution of the nonsense.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
The cringingly wacky scenarios, offbeat characters and comic dialogue serve up a crowd-pleasing, laugh-filled experience.
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
This is a fairly low-keyed comedy, but a grown-up dropping in on it can appreciate its lack of frenzy, its fundamental good nature, as easily as its core audience will. It isn't exactly a gem, but as zircons go, it'll do.
Ben Rawson-Jones, Digital Spy
An execrable movie that's incredibly uninspired.
Jeff Otto, Dark Horizons
If you go into this one with reasonable expectations, you should have a very, very good time at the theater.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
One of the year's dingiest comedies
Tom Meek, Boston Phoenix
The comic effect goes limp fast and has little to do with the effort of Segel's Pete to win back the girlfriend of the title (Kristen Bell).
Tony Macklin, Fayetteville Free Weekly
Ok, I give up. The Slackers win. In the last ten years, the Republican Party has had its revenge, the Nerds have had their revenge, and now the Slackers stand sloppy and tall. I stand poleaxed. The latest beating inflicted on my psyche is by Forgetting
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
the unrated cut of the film on DVD is definitely worth it
Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies
For a film that's been lauded for its daring display of full-frontal male nudity, I got the nagging feeling that it actually played things pretty safe.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...ultimately comes off as an affable piece of work that benefits from the uniformly engaging performances and inclusion of several genuinely hilarious bits of comedic silliness.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Judd Apatow's comedies are always watchable and sometimes hilarious, but with the latest to emerge under his aegis, I have to admit it is getting harder to defend them against the charge of misogyny.
Mike Goodridge, Screen International
Indeed, the film never veers into arch territory, possessing such affection for its characters that not one of them, not even Sarah Marshall, comes off as the bad guy.
Jay Richardson, Future Movies UK
Brand shows that top comedians, for all their limited range, can be decent actors in the right parts, a heightened sense of timing affording them an advantage in comic fare.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
At its heart, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is about heartbreak, heartache, and all the other emotions that most men spend the majority of their energy trying to repress in an effort to appear strong.
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
It's got an engaging cast and enough laughs to compensate for some shortcomings.
Jason Zingale, Bullz-Eye.com
Forgetting Sarah Marshall never quite attains the same comedic excellence of past Apatow projects, [but] it's still a really funny romantic comedy that is sure to gain a dedicated following of its own.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Cute, funny movie. Jason segal and Mila Kunis did a wonderful job. Russell Brand is hilarious. Full of fun romantic comedy cliches but well worth the 2 hours.
Directors C

[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Sarah Marshall is one of those Apatow comedies that puts Slot A into Slot B and doesn't try to do much more than that. As a romantic comedy it sometimes relies on too many ideas from other films that… More
[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Sarah Marshall is one of those Apatow comedies that puts Slot A into Slot B and doesn't try to do much more than that. As a romantic comedy it sometimes relies on too many ideas from other films that share the same plot elements. Jason Segel also wrote the screenplay for the film, I think he is a hilariously funny guy but his character Peter, although likable and often funny is similar to Seth Rogen in Knocked Up and Jonah Hill in the Marshall spin off; Get Him to the Greek. As far as rom com's are concerned it's unoriginal but holds tightly together with raunchy humour that doesn't change it's tone but makes it even funnier. Full of charm and sharp performances, it's not an Apatow breakthrough like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Knocked Up or Step Brothers it's very watchable and highly enjoyable.
Albert K

Good balance of raunchiness and romance. Funny but it wasn't as funny as I'd like it to be. Still a good time to sit back and relax.
Sanjay R

Segel and Brand really put on a show while Bell, Kunis, Rudd and Hill support them well. A very funny and well written movie.
Brad W

This movie is hilarious, it is a comedy classic. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is about Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) who just lost his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), and he decides to take a trip to Hawaii to get his mind off her, but ironically she is there with her new… More
This movie is hilarious, it is a comedy classic. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is about Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) who just lost his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), and he decides to take a trip to Hawaii to get his mind off her, but ironically she is there with her new boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). The plot is good, it has heart, comedy, and some of the greatest moments in comedy genre history. The cast is good, Jason Segel and Russell Brand are hilarious, but Kristen Bell (as usual) was not funny at all, and I love Mika Kunis, and she is the perfect choice for her role. The comedy is great, this film is 100% hilarious. Other than Kristen Bell and cliche rom com ending, this is one of the best comedies you will ever see.
Jens S

I shouldn't always judge a book by its cover. I neither found the trailer to be very convincing, nor am I a fan of "Team Apatow", and it certainly doesn't help that I hate Russel Brand. Turns out the film is actually quite charming, funny and presents characters… More
I shouldn't always judge a book by its cover. I neither found the trailer to be very convincing, nor am I a fan of "Team Apatow", and it certainly doesn't help that I hate Russel Brand. Turns out the film is actually quite charming, funny and presents characters you love to follow around for a while. When I say funny it should be absolutely clear that we are talking very naughty humor here, but delivered in such an incredibly nonchalant kind of way that it's impossible not to laugh at the awkwardness. What's even more surprising is that the script and the acting makes you care for those characters and you don't want this to go wrong. Mila Kunis is particularly enchanting. So when it comes to romantic comedies, this is certainly one of the more refreshing ones of recent years. The ending with the Dracula rock opera performance is particularly awesome. A pleasant surprise. Even Russel Brand wasn't all that annoying.
Kevin C

The perfect modern-era romantic comedy.
Bethany M

One of the best films I've ever seen. This mainly because Russell Brand is a character in this film and he's amazingly funny. Hilarious all the way through. Definite must see!
Drake T

Stoller might as well be an Apatow clone, this is a pretty solid romedy. Enjoyable characters/cast, gags & jokes that are worth your time and even though the overall plot isn't all too original, there are enough twists and turns and unique devices that make it fresh.
Cassie H

This was a geniunely funny movie. Jason Segel was hilarious and very entertaining. Mila Kunis was also adorable and was so happy that her and Jason Segel ended up together in the film. Jonah Hill had some funny bits and Paul Rudd did as well. Absolutely worth the watch! This movie is… More
This was a geniunely funny movie. Jason Segel was hilarious and very entertaining. Mila Kunis was also adorable and was so happy that her and Jason Segel ended up together in the film. Jonah Hill had some funny bits and Paul Rudd did as well. Absolutely worth the watch! This movie is awesome! :) I just love it & Jason Segel's puppet musical :) Just an awesome movie :) So great! :) You'll love it! Such a cute movie :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
moon r

Actually much better than I thought it would be and, as buddy j.d.fortunefan notes, it's actually a chick flick with guys playing the leads. Quite an well rounded comedy though ... and Mila Kunis shines.
Carlos M

This is the perfect exemple of a smart comedy that made me laugh silently, on the inside, while I was being pulled into the story by how moving it actually is. The narrative is impeccable and deeply sincere, and the whole cast is homogeneously great. A memorable film produced by Judd… More
This is the perfect exemple of a smart comedy that made me laugh silently, on the inside, while I was being pulled into the story by how moving it actually is. The narrative is impeccable and deeply sincere, and the whole cast is homogeneously great. A memorable film produced by Judd Apatow.
♥Robyn

this movie kept me laughing. Jason Segel is hilarious and at times outrageous, but maybe next time he will consider keeping his pants on LOL This is a 4-star movie that gained that extra star through its cast. Mila Kunis is gorgeous, Paul Rudd makes a humorous appearance, and who… More
this movie kept me laughing. Jason Segel is hilarious and at times outrageous, but maybe next time he will consider keeping his pants on LOL This is a 4-star movie that gained that extra star through its cast. Mila Kunis is gorgeous, Paul Rudd makes a humorous appearance, and who doesn't love Jonah Hill & Bill Hader. It is a must see movie for a bit of light entertainment in my opinion
Chris W

A mostly good, but somewhat flawed film. It's like an anti romcom, which I think is pretty cool. It's pretty funny, which I like, and I also like that it is a farce, but there's enough pain and bitterness present to make it hard to totally suspend disbelief. The… More
A mostly good, but somewhat flawed film. It's like an anti romcom, which I think is pretty cool. It's pretty funny, which I like, and I also like that it is a farce, but there's enough pain and bitterness present to make it hard to totally suspend disbelief. The performances are really pretty good though. So yeah, it's pretty decent, but needs some polishing up. B-.
Jeff "

Theres two words that come to mind when I think of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Insanely funny. Of all the Judd Apatow productions, Sarah Marshall has got to be the funniest film out there. This is definitely one of my favorite comedies and I found it to be one of the funniest films in… More
Theres two words that come to mind when I think of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Insanely funny. Of all the Judd Apatow productions, Sarah Marshall has got to be the funniest film out there. This is definitely one of my favorite comedies and I found it to be one of the funniest films in recent memory. This is a film that brings about the worse possible scenario for as guy to recover from a break up, and like most of Appatow's production's, this film is a riot. The comedians involved in the film make the movie funnier and theres many moments that are simply hysterical. Jason Segel plays Peter Bretter and Kristen Bell plays Sarah Marshall, his ex girlfriend who recently dumped him. To clear his mind, Peter takes a Trip to Hawaii, ignoring that his ex has also taken a trip at the same resort with her new boyfriend. What follows is a series of misadventures as Peter tries to cope with the situation. Sarah Marshall is a fine Comedy, a Well written, smart and witty film thats is much better than most films involving love as a story idea. In a way, I feel that this film almost makes fun of the typical romantic comedy formula because the story makes fun of one guys ordeal after the breakup. That is fairly original, and that to me is why the film succeeds. You won't find a funnier romantic disaster comedy than Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Every cast member is extremely funny. but a noteworthy performance here is Jonah Hill as Matthew, the Eager Infant Sorrow fan who Keeps irritating Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), though on screen for less than 10 minutes total during the entire film, Hill is pretty funny. This is one of the better "Romantic" comedies because it makes fun of guys misfortune after he breaks up with girlfriend, a truly original amusing comedy film. What makes this film so funny is the diverse cast of comedic talent, and they pull off something memorable, and fun.
Dan S

A fun but overall forgettable romantic-comedy featuring impressive turns from its lead cast but some downright awful side-plots that don't hold a lot of comedic weight. Jason Segal shines brightest, as he convincingly comes across as your average guy who is emotional and has good… More
A fun but overall forgettable romantic-comedy featuring impressive turns from its lead cast but some downright awful side-plots that don't hold a lot of comedic weight. Jason Segal shines brightest, as he convincingly comes across as your average guy who is emotional and has good intentions. The ending didn't exactly ring true, it kind of obeyed formula. Other than that, it's a pretty funny movie, but Apatow and co. have certainly done better.
Al S

This is one outrageously funny and enjoyable movie from start to finish. It gives off plenty of incredible laughs and alot of surprising heart. It's smart, well-written and has a great cast playing some very funny and compelling characters and you don't get that too much in… More
This is one outrageously funny and enjoyable movie from start to finish. It gives off plenty of incredible laughs and alot of surprising heart. It's smart, well-written and has a great cast playing some very funny and compelling characters and you don't get that too much in a comedy these days. An absolutely hilarious and very original romantic comedy that will make you want more. Jason Segal is a hoot and Mila Kunis are fantastic, they have such crisp and funny chemistry. Russell Brand is a comic movie star in the making.
Lenny M

Very interesting and original, lead actor writing the screenplay which is a plus. Theme of heartbreak leads to fun and interesting scenes. Surprising things happen that I wouldn't have expected from this comedy for example, a musical about Dracula, just random and clever. Good… More
Very interesting and original, lead actor writing the screenplay which is a plus. Theme of heartbreak leads to fun and interesting scenes. Surprising things happen that I wouldn't have expected from this comedy for example, a musical about Dracula, just random and clever. Good flick. Update: Gets better and better.
Daniel P

This might be the one that stands out in Judd Apatow's stable. Not overly funny, and not overly inventive, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a straight-from-the-heart story of getting over someone. Scripted by Jason Segal, the dialogue is a little hackneyed and too expository, but on… More
This might be the one that stands out in Judd Apatow's stable. Not overly funny, and not overly inventive, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a straight-from-the-heart story of getting over someone. Scripted by Jason Segal, the dialogue is a little hackneyed and too expository, but on the whole this is a likeable film that features decent acting and just enough laughs that it doesn't depress you.
Spencer S

Pretty strange in its concept, but ultimately very funny.