| Lowest Recommended Age: | Mature High Schooler |
| MPAA Rating: | Rated R for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. |
| Profanity: | Extremely strong language |
| Nudity/Sex: | Very explicit sexual references and situations, extremely graphic male and female nudity |
| Alcohol/Drugs: | Drinking, including drinking to numb feelings |
| Violence/Scariness: | Comic peril and violence |
| Diversity Issues: | None |
| Movie Release Date: | April 21, 2008 |
"How I Met Your Mother's" Jason Segal wrote and stars in the latest from the Apatow atelier, another raunchy comedy with a tender heart, and once again the story of a childish and helpless man who is perpetually longing for sex and love but inept with women.
Segal plays Peter who is dumped by the title character in the first scene, and who is so devastatingly nonplussed that he stands before her -- and us -- naked. Yes, record-keepers, while Apatow's "Walk Hard" gave us what was probably the first mainstream close-up of an anonymous full Monty, this is the watershed moment for the R rating, at least four sightings of the Monty of the main character.
Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) is the star of a successful television series. After the deadly "We have to talk," she tells Peter there is no one else but it is soon clear that she is now with a self-absorbed rock star named Aldous Snow (British comic Russell Brand). Peter flees to Hawaii to get away from it all only to find that Sarah and Aldous are staying at the same hotel. Peter sobs in the suite given to him by Rachel (Mila Kunis), a beautiful and sympathetic hotel manager, while Sarah and Aldous have a lot of very loud and athletic sex. Peter feels bad. He spends time with Rachel.
There are some very, very funny moments in this film, though many of them come from seeing Peter behave like a blubbering boob. Apatow regulars Paul Rudd (a happily stoned surfing instructor) and Jonah Hill (a hotel restaurant manager and major Aldous Snow fan) are underused, but Bill Heder as Peter's brother gets in some good moments giving long-distance advice.
I'm getting a little impatient with these clueless boy-man characters, though. It may be funny that Peter (and Seth Rogan in "Knocked Up" and Steve Carell in "40 Year Old Virgin" etc. etc.) do not understand anything about women, but the people who make the movies should at least make it seem that they know a few. The Apatow crew needs to find a way to create a female character as fully-realized and messy as the men. Both Sarah and Rachel are bland and frustratingly inconsistent, behaving and reacting in whatever way Segal thinks will be funniest for Peter to react to at a given moment. It is a shame to write off, almost write out, half of the population and half of the equation in a movie about romantic complications, especially with actresses as lovely and talented as Bell and Kunis.
Segal writes some hilarious lines, and there is a deliriously random and extremely funny detour into vampire musical theater puppetry. But the film's happiest surprise is Brand, who seems to be in his own movie, which is perfect for the role of the self-absorbed rock star. His reaction to the gift of a shirt is funnier than all four Montys and singing vampire puppets put together.
Parents should know that this film features nudity, including explicit and graphic female and full male nudity, very explicit sexual references and situations, extremely strong language, drinking, including drinking to deal with stress and drunkenness, and drug references. There is also some comic violence.
Families who see this movie should talk about is the best way to deal with a broken heart. What hurt Peter the most and why?
Families who appreciate this movie will also enjoy "40 Year Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up."
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Your review of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is right on-My husband and I spent time enjoying (yes!) this film tonight, rented later in the evening on pay per view. Yes, we groaned at the raunchy bits, and we also laughed out loud enjoying the romantic comedy...to the point that, when our laughter drew them in, we had to shoo our older children (still awake) out of the TV room. Your review described the ups and downs of the film itself AND the specifics that earned this movie its R rating.
This review is a wonderful example of your gift for combining quality film reviewing with exactly the information parents want/need to know when making decisions about what films are appropriate for their family.
Our children (now 8, 10, 13, and 15) all know that "Mom's Movie Reviews" is the first place to go before they ask to see or rent a movie when there is any question about whether or not it is appropriate. They have also learned that, even if a film is age appropriate, a low C or D rating might also result in a "no" decision-the movie's probably not worth their time to watch it!
I have found no other place to go and hear both the film goers’ perspective AND the parent perspective on movies. Your reviews are consistently articulate and unbiased...and your responses to the wide spectrum of comments your reviews receive also shows your willingness to respectfully hear other points of view-a consideration you are not always shown in return. Thanks for what you do and how well you do it...
Thanks so much, Susan. Your kind words mean the world to me!
Thanks so much, Susan. Your kind words mean the world to me!
Don't let yourself fooled by his appearance of a nice guy. The movie is stupid from the start.
First, you shouldn't let your under 16 years old child watch these obscenities.
Seeing on tv, right in the start is the new boyfriend of Miss Marshall who is on Hollywood access television info and guess what's he's doing, he's kissing everyone on the mouth in a train station and mimic sex taking by suprise behind her back an old nun who was passing by. Think this is comic for a child?
Nobody should watch this, even less a child.
Thanks, Alexa. I made it clear in my review that this movie has extremely explicit and raunchy humor. It is not for everyone and it is certainly not for anyone under age 17 or 18.
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