Luckily I was invited to a premiere of this movie last night. It must’ve been one of the first screenings. Because everybodie’s mobile phone was minded for us outside the cinema.

If you haven’t heard anything about this movie, it’s by the ‘40 Year Old Virgin’ and ‘Knocked Up’ crew, although a bit of a departure from their usually ribald, innuendo based stuff. This is more of an attempt at a mature broken heart comedy.

The plot basically goes like this. Sarah Marshall is an A list Hollywood celeb who stars in a TV crime drama that’s a parody of Alias. She dates the composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) from that show who’s a bit of a lay about stoner kind of guy who’s totally content with their relationship. It all goes pear shaped when she drops him and his life is thrown into some adolescent like turmoil.

Desperate to move on, his half brother (played by Bill Hader) persuades him to take a holiday to Hawaii. Sadly Sarah has taken her new beau English rock star Aldous to exactly the same Hawaiian resort. Clearly he’s on a crash course for Rock bottom, but finds a compassionate confidant, played by the gorgeous Mila Kunis.

What unfolds is a comedy of romantic mishaps which involves other guests at the hotel, uncomfortable couple situations and holiday experiences. But despite having all the right talent (especially in regards to Mila!), this movie lacks a certain rythym. It’s funny in bits but is strung along poorly and is just too idyllic to be believable.

Aldous (who’s played by UK stand up commedian Russell Brand) saves the day and the promiscuous and audacious rock star. Especially with a ridiculous parody of music video at the start of the movie. But you somehow get the feeling that’s just being himself and the whole movie would’ve collapsed in on itself, like a cake that didn’t rise, if it wasn’t for his impromptu moments of British wit. It does have funny moments, but it’s just not laugh out loud and doesn’t have the strength in the story of movies like ‘Knocked Up’.

2.5 out of 5.