Judd Apatow, the producer responsible for the popular comedies “The 40-Year Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad,” scores again with his latest offering, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Apatow and director Nicholas Stoller assemble a talented cast who navigate the clever and funny script written by and starring Jason Segel.

When Peter (Segel) is unceremoniously “dumped” by his television star girlfriend Sarah (Kristen Bell), he launches into a deep depression. At the suggestion of this brother Brian (Bill Hader), Peter decides to take a vacation to a lush Hawaiian resort, with the hope of forgetting his heartbreak and taking a brief hiatus from his job, which consists of providing the musical score to his now ex-girlfriend’s hit series.

Upon arrival to his tropical “getaway,” Peter is horrified to discover that Sarah and her new British rock-star boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), are also guests in the same hotel. A pretty hospitality clerk, Rachel (Mila Kunis), takes both pity and interest in Peter and arranges for him to stay in a lavish suite since all the regular rooms are booked. As luck would have it, Sarah and Aldous’ suite is in direct proximity to the spurned Peter, who spends a few days sobbing uncontrollably in his room.

After receiving some words of concern and further attention from Rachel, Peter asks her to dinner and finds that he actually has a good time. Meanwhile, Sarah discovers that her new love is actually a fickle and shallow soul, who in the midst of her TV show being canceled, informs her that he has and plans to continue an unfaithful lifestyle, among a few other unsavory revelations.

Taking notice of Peter’s newfound and genuinely deepening relationship with Rachel, Sarah begins to regret her decision to break off their four-year relationship and vies to “win him” back, which would have been the natural course for most over-the-top comedies to follow. However, this picture takes a twist and the “final act” reveals more about forgiveness and acceptance than it does about revenge and regret.

The large ensemble cast is outstanding and many are familiar faces in other Apatow films. Segel’s exceptionally funny screenplay and his wonderful performance go a long way in making this sometimes raunchy, but ultimately charming adult comedy well worth the trip to the box office.

(3 out of 4 stars)

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