Movie · 2008 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 51m · R · English
Curator score: 4.2/10 (659.9K ratings)
You lose some, you get some.
Overview
When actress Sarah Marshall dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter for rock star Aldous Snow, Peter's world comes crashing down. His best friend Brian suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful receptionist Rachel Jansen, Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous in Hawaii, but also Sarah.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.2/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.30/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Metacritic: 67
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Nicholas Stoller
Production
Universal Pictures, Apatow Productions
Cast
Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Liz Cackowski, Jack McBrayer, Maria Thayer, Paul Rudd, Jason Bateman, William Baldwin, Kristen Wiig, Da'Vone McDonald, Steve Landesberg, Kalani Robb, Murray Miller, Taylor Wily, Kala Alexander, Francesca Delbanco
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, very rewatchable breakup comedy that mixes cringe, heartache, and Hawaiian vacation chaos with a surprisingly sweet romantic payoff. It’s funniest when it leans into awkward self-pity and ensemble absurdity, and it still lands as a comfort watch for anyone who likes messy but affectionate relationship comedies.
Best for
fans of raunchy studio comedies with emotional sincerity
viewers who like breakup stories that end on hope
people who enjoy awkward, self-deprecating leads
audiences looking for an easygoing vacation setting
fans of ensemble comedy with memorable side characters
Skip if
you dislike explicit sex jokes and nudity
you want a tightly plotted romance with minimal cringe
you prefer subtle, low-key humor over broad comedy
you’re not in the mood for a very self-pitying protagonist
Overview
This is one of the defining post-2000s breakup comedies: messy, shameless, and more emotionally observant than it first appears. The movie gets a lot of mileage out of humiliation, but it never fully mocks Peter; it lets the sadness sit alongside the jokes, which is why the romance works when it finally clicks.
Worth noting
The Hawaiian setting gives the film a breezy, sunlit contrast to all the emotional wreckage, and the supporting cast keeps the energy bouncing from scene to scene. It’s also a very specific kind of comedy, built on awkwardness, oversharing, and the kind of ridiculous behavior that feels just plausible enough to be painful.
Bottom line
What lingers most is the movie’s balance of gross-out humor and genuine vulnerability. If that blend works for you, it’s an easy recommendation; if not, the film’s constant self-exposure can feel like too much of a good thing.
Top Letterboxd reviews
#1 gizmo fan (3.5★) · 4966 likes
i did not need that many penis shots but okay jason segal whatever you say
Framesofnick (3.5★) · 3187 likes
You can forget Sarah Marshall but you’ll never forget deez nuts
Nakul (3.5★) · 2730 likes
♪♪Everybody hates you.♪♪
Everybody wishes that you were dead.
Cause Peter you suck. Peter you suck.
Peter your music is fucking terrible.
Peter you suck. Peter you suck.
Peter you don't do anything of value.
Peter you suck. Write some music.
But instead you sit and write these bullshit songs.
It's so self-loathing, go see a psychiatrist.
I hate the psychiatrist.
Well go see one anyway.
I don't like the psychiatrist.
You need to go see one. See a psychiatrist.
♪♪I'M NOT GOING.♪♪
lauren (2★) · 1972 likes
[to the tune of "Let it Snow"] "Oh, the weather outside is weather"
needed more paul rudd
ashley 🌙 (4★) · 1788 likes
I would fully support a kickstarter for Jason Segel to make his vampire puppet musical an actual thing.