Friday, September 18, 2009

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

In Forgetting Sarah Marshall we follow Peter, who has just been dumped by his actress girlfriend, Sarah Marshall. After 3 weeks of emotional torment that follow the split, Peter decides to take a vacation to a resort in Hawaii that he had heard Sarah talk about. Upon his arrival, he soon discovers that Sarah is also vacationing at the same resort. . . . with new rock star boyfriend in tow. With the help of a few comical new friends and a little romance, Peter stumbles through "forgetting" about Sarah.

The story lacks a little in luster, but the characters in this movie keep it afloat.

There is a certain charm and humor to this movie that can only be brought by Jason Segal. From the moment that he tells Sarah (Kristen Bell) that "if I put clothes on, it means that it's over", he's a sure audience favorite. I think a major contributor to this viewer connection is the common thread we share in that, at some point, we've either been this guy, or knew this guy. Everyone has been through a break up (plus or minus the being dumped in the nude part). I can even think of times where I've inadvertently seen an ex boyfriend shortly after a break up and thought to myself that "I wish I weren't wearing this fucking shirt".

Kristen Bell plays an interesting antagonist, mainly because she is both the victim AND the bad guy. Sure, on the surface it looks like she left Peter for another guy and for all intents and purposes that is true. But as the movie carries on, you learn that a factor in choosing to leave Peter was her feelings that their relationship with holding her back emotionally and perhaps professionally despite efforts to make things better. She doesn't want to leave Peter but instead feels she has to. Once we hear Sarah's confession, suddenly she, too, becomes a character that one can connect with. However, the sympathetic feelings for Sarah soon shift when she comes between Peter and new love interest Rachel, becoming the character you love to hate.

Dialog delivered by Russell Brand is absolutely delightful, and appearances by Paul Rudd and Bill Hader round out the supporting cast quite nicely.

I very much enjoy this movie a little more every time I see it. In fact, I'm still waiting to lose a shoe so that I can ask if anyone has seen and further explain that, "It's like this one's fellow... it's sort of the exact opposite in fact of that - not an evil version but just, you know, a shoe like this... but for the other foot." I very much recommend this movie to the laugh-seekers among us.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Smart People

Smart People, starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Hayden Church and Ellen Page, is the story of Lawrence Wetherhold, a widowed English professor who is truly miserable. He isn't well liked at work, can't get his book published, and seems a bit indifferent about the emotionally distant relationship he has with both of his children.  When a seizure causes Lawrence to fall, he ends up in the ER where he connects Dr. Janet Hartigan, a former student he doesn't remember.  With this new romance ahead of Lawrence, he tries to pull his life out of the unhappy funk brought on by his wife's death.

Overall?  This movie was okay.  On the surface, it's a movie about a middle aged man who is completely dissatisfied with life, but I think the underlying message is along the lines of "hey smart people! Get a life!".  I have a hunch that people will feel one of two ways about this movie.  The audience will connect with Quaid's character and hope that this sad man will come out of his miserable fog to find a happy ending.  That, or viewers will find themselves asking the same question I did; since when is "smart" synonymous  for "discontent"?  Like the title suggests, this movie is about smart people.  You have a doctor, a college professor, a very intelligent high school student and NONE of these people seem the slightest bit satisfied with life.  Not only are they personally unhappy, they don't want to see anyone else beat them to the happy punch.  As the saying goes, misery loves company.  
I also felt that the filmmaker's attempts at seeking sympathy for Lawrence was a little half-assed.  the whole movie he is criticized by the other characters because he neglects to inquire about the lives/thoughts/feelings of anyone.  But the moment he makes a feeble attempt at asking "how was your day?" or "what's wrong?" he is given grief if he isn't ignored completely. These scenarios would have you feeling sorry for the guy if you actually thought he cared what the answer to his question(s) was. 
I did, however, like the ending.  The movie attempts to end on a happy note by suggesting that everyone ended up happier than they were when we met them.  Although it's subtle and seems a bit forced, it does fit.  An "everything is sunshine and lollipops" ending would not have meshed with the movie's solemn tone. 

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Most awkward moment: At first, I thought the way Dennis Quaid's face tackled Sarah Jessica Parker was a bit weird.  Five minutes later, however, a drunk Ellen Page kisses Thomas Hayden Church (and may I remind you that Page is playing his 17 year old niece?)

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I wouldn't not recommend this movie.  If you're looking for a movie with smart dialogue that never threatens to make you laugh, then this may be for you.  However, if watching people be miserable isn't your thing, you may want to move on.