Back in the olden time when Richard Roeper was still on At the Movies (see April 2008), he said this about Forgetting Sarah Marshall; “I want to just get down on my knees and declare my undying love for this movie” and that it was an instant classic entering his top fifty comedies of all time. Since I didn’t catch this one in theatres, this high praise had me excited to check it out on DVD. I liked it (but less than him).
I was familiar with the lead Jason Segel from his smaller role in another of the Judd Apatow films, Knocked Up, as well as Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader from a variety of other films, including their own Apatow associations. Segel reminds me of a younger Mark Cuban, who I manage to like despite his insanely rich status thanks to his sheer enthusiasm and sincerity (though now that I look at him, he does remind me of Judge Reinhold). Segel also wrote the film by the way and I assume wrote those pretty intense Dracula jams.
I basically don’t watch network sitcoms, which may help explain my cluelessness about the cast. I had no idea who the female leads in the film were until I looked them up (Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell). They were adequate but kind of fit into my Drew Barrymore, “I just don’t get it” category. The Stephen Baldwin channeling David Caruso on CSI cameos were a treat.
The Forty Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up DVDs forced viewers into watching the “uncut” versions of the films, which dragged on too long. Fortunately with FSM, you are given the option to watch a longer cut or the theatrical version of the film. Having learned my lesson the hard way from those other Apatow DVDs, I chose the theatrical cut. Thanks for giving me the choice this time; it is a huge improvement.
Random life lesson learned from FSM; Paul Rudd must be skirting the legal definition of dwarfism, which I never noticed before, but I think he is quite good in both dramatic and comedic roles even if he is a little wasted in this film (no pun intended).
Fathers, don’t try to be the cool dad and watch this movie with your teenage daughters. Segel’s wiener makes two hilarious cameos in the film. Awkward.
Since I brought up At the Movies in this post, I just want to go on record. The re-launched show has been on now for about a month, and it is official. It is fucking terrible! Ben Mankiewicz seems like he just needs a little time to adjust to the show and might be at least passable, if not a little boring. Ben Lyons is supersucky! That guy needs to fuck off. They have tried to sexy up the shows’ demographic with Lyons allegedly filling the role of the young, hip critic, and new horrible features like the Critics Roundup. Ugh. And when the Bens try to get into it, Lyons can’t seem to stop winking at the camera. His argument is usually something compelling like, “Oh come on!” If the show were able to survive long enough, which I cannot possibly imagine, it might get more interesting as Mankiewicz begins to lose his ability to hide his contempt for Lyons and starts getting vicious and personal. He should be issued a Taser. I’d watch that show.
I’m crossing my fingers that Roger Ebert will fully recover and return with a new program (despite his affinity for the Garfield movies). It’s been on my DVR for 5 years, but as of this week, At the Movies has officially been decommissioned.
