by Robbie Jones
Jason Segel is one of the funniest men working today. He somehow always manages to hit the right notes and generally produces great stuff. So it’s a shame to see his new film Sex Tape getting such bad reviews. The film stars Segel and Cameron Diaz as a couple who are overwhelmed by their daily lives, and decide to let themselves go by making a sex tape. However, before they can delete it, the tape is shared via The Cloud to every iPad they gave out as Christmas presents, and must track down each and every device to ensure no one sees the video. To be fair, it doesn’t sound or look great so the bad reviews aren’t really a surprise, but if this film leaves you with a bad impression of Jason Segel, maybe check out these ones instead to remind you of his real talent
Jason Segel is one of the funniest men working today. He somehow always manages to hit the right notes and generally produces great stuff. So it’s a shame to see his new film Sex Tape getting such bad reviews. The film stars Segel and Cameron Diaz as a couple who are overwhelmed by their daily lives, and decide to let themselves go by making a sex tape. However, before they can delete it, the tape is shared via The Cloud to every iPad they gave out as Christmas presents, and must track down each and every device to ensure no one sees the video. To be fair, it doesn’t sound or look great so the bad reviews aren’t really a surprise, but if this film leaves you with a bad impression of Jason Segel, maybe check out these ones instead to remind you of his real talent
But first, let’s take a quick moment to appreciate one of Segel’s finest achievements, though not one that was on the big screen: How I Met Your Mother. The sitcom, which starred Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby, an architect who recounts to his children the story of his search for love in New York with his best friends and he eventually came to meet their mother, ran for 9 years and was a hit. The ending was quite terrible, but it was still a fantastic program. All the cast were brilliant, especially Segel and Neil Patrick Harris, and if you haven’t seen it, it’s great for casual viewing.
Jeff, Who Lives at Home
Up next is a comedy-drama from the writers of Cyrus, which stars Segel as Jeff, a 30 year old unemployed stoner who lives with his mother (Susan Sarandon). After watching the film Signs, Jeff looks for his destiny in seemingly random occurrences, and along the way helps his far more successful brother Pat (Ed Helms) find out if his wife is cheating on him. This film is absolutely brilliant but extremely underrated. The comedy and drama balance each other out very well, and the way the stories all culminate together at the end is perfect, plus Ed Helms delivers an absolutely stellar performance. If you haven’t heard of this film, look it up. You won’t regret it.
Up next is a comedy-drama from the writers of Cyrus, which stars Segel as Jeff, a 30 year old unemployed stoner who lives with his mother (Susan Sarandon). After watching the film Signs, Jeff looks for his destiny in seemingly random occurrences, and along the way helps his far more successful brother Pat (Ed Helms) find out if his wife is cheating on him. This film is absolutely brilliant but extremely underrated. The comedy and drama balance each other out very well, and the way the stories all culminate together at the end is perfect, plus Ed Helms delivers an absolutely stellar performance. If you haven’t heard of this film, look it up. You won’t regret it.
The Muppets
Jason Segel isn’t someone you’d totally expect to be in Muppets film, but then again, isn’t every actor that gets cast in a Muppets film? Walter is the world’s biggest Muppet fan, living in Smalltown with his older brother Gary (Jason Segel). When Gary takes his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for their anniversary, Walter is invited along to check out the Muppet Studios, much to Mary’s dismay. When they arrive, Walter discovers that oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) is planning to destroy the Muppet Studios to get the oil underneath, so the trio go to Kermit the Frog himself and get The Muppets back together to put on a telethon to raise money to save the studio. This was the first Muppet film since Muppets From Space and it did not disappoint. The performances are great, the humour is perhaps the funniest of all the Muppet films (With some amazing puns and fourth wall breaks) and the music is phenomenal. You don’t need to be a kid to enjoy The Muppets, you just need to have a heart.
Jason Segel isn’t someone you’d totally expect to be in Muppets film, but then again, isn’t every actor that gets cast in a Muppets film? Walter is the world’s biggest Muppet fan, living in Smalltown with his older brother Gary (Jason Segel). When Gary takes his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for their anniversary, Walter is invited along to check out the Muppet Studios, much to Mary’s dismay. When they arrive, Walter discovers that oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) is planning to destroy the Muppet Studios to get the oil underneath, so the trio go to Kermit the Frog himself and get The Muppets back together to put on a telethon to raise money to save the studio. This was the first Muppet film since Muppets From Space and it did not disappoint. The performances are great, the humour is perhaps the funniest of all the Muppet films (With some amazing puns and fourth wall breaks) and the music is phenomenal. You don’t need to be a kid to enjoy The Muppets, you just need to have a heart.
Despicable Me
Let’s take a look at one of the best animated films of the last few years, and one that some people tend to forget Jason Segel is even in. Gru (Steve Carell) is a super villain planning to pull off his greatest crime yet: He is going to steal the moon. But he has a rival, Vector (Jason Segel), another super villain who is famous for stealing the Sphinx. Gru adopts three girl scouts to assist him, and soon learns how to be a father and realises he may not be such a bad guy after all. Despicable Me is sweet and hilarious, with some excellent voice work and a great script, not to mention it has jump started a craze with Minions, the tiny yellow gibberish speaking cuties who assist Gru in his evil plots. Having met someone who is obsessed with the little guys, I can confirm this is a serious thing. But the Minions are actually one of the best things about this film and its sequel, which isn’t quite as good but still worth watching.
Let’s take a look at one of the best animated films of the last few years, and one that some people tend to forget Jason Segel is even in. Gru (Steve Carell) is a super villain planning to pull off his greatest crime yet: He is going to steal the moon. But he has a rival, Vector (Jason Segel), another super villain who is famous for stealing the Sphinx. Gru adopts three girl scouts to assist him, and soon learns how to be a father and realises he may not be such a bad guy after all. Despicable Me is sweet and hilarious, with some excellent voice work and a great script, not to mention it has jump started a craze with Minions, the tiny yellow gibberish speaking cuties who assist Gru in his evil plots. Having met someone who is obsessed with the little guys, I can confirm this is a serious thing. But the Minions are actually one of the best things about this film and its sequel, which isn’t quite as good but still worth watching.
I Love You, Man
Now it’s time for perhaps Paul Rudd’s finest work to date, I Love You, Man. Peter Klaven (Rudd) is a real estate agent recently engaged to his girlfriend (Rashida Jones), but realises that he has no male friends, and therefore has no best man. So, Peter sets out to find a new best friend and in the process meets Sydney (Jason Segel), an eccentric layabout who instantly connects with Peter, which at first his fiancé is alright with, but it soon gets on her nerves. I’m not sure there’s actually a word in the dictionary for how funny this film is, but it’s one of the smartest comedy scripts I’ve ever heard. It’s laugh out loud entertainment with great performances from its leads, as well as supporting roles from J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg and Jon Favreau.
Now it’s time for perhaps Paul Rudd’s finest work to date, I Love You, Man. Peter Klaven (Rudd) is a real estate agent recently engaged to his girlfriend (Rashida Jones), but realises that he has no male friends, and therefore has no best man. So, Peter sets out to find a new best friend and in the process meets Sydney (Jason Segel), an eccentric layabout who instantly connects with Peter, which at first his fiancé is alright with, but it soon gets on her nerves. I’m not sure there’s actually a word in the dictionary for how funny this film is, but it’s one of the smartest comedy scripts I’ve ever heard. It’s laugh out loud entertainment with great performances from its leads, as well as supporting roles from J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg and Jon Favreau.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Finally, we come to the film that introduced a lot of audiences to Jason Segel, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Peter Bretter (Segel) has his world turned upside down when his actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) leaves him for rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Lonely and depressed, his best friend (Bill Hader) suggests he takes a vacation, so he goes to Hawaii to relax and forget about her....Until he finds out her and Snow are on vacation there as well. Awkward. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is hands down one of the best comedies of the past 10 years, and Segel’s best performance to date. It also includes a stand out performance from Mila Kunis, and hilarious contributions from Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd (The former two getting their own spin off together, Get Him to the Greek). It’s funny, it’s charming, it’s sweet and it’s THE essential Jason Segel film.
Finally, we come to the film that introduced a lot of audiences to Jason Segel, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Peter Bretter (Segel) has his world turned upside down when his actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) leaves him for rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Lonely and depressed, his best friend (Bill Hader) suggests he takes a vacation, so he goes to Hawaii to relax and forget about her....Until he finds out her and Snow are on vacation there as well. Awkward. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is hands down one of the best comedies of the past 10 years, and Segel’s best performance to date. It also includes a stand out performance from Mila Kunis, and hilarious contributions from Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd (The former two getting their own spin off together, Get Him to the Greek). It’s funny, it’s charming, it’s sweet and it’s THE essential Jason Segel film.
What Do You Think?
Those are our picks, what are your favourite Jason Segel films?
Will you be seeing Sex Tape?
Let us know in the comments!
Sex Tape is in cinemas now
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