Rating: 8 / 10

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis

The plot: After Peter (Segel) is dumped by his famous television-star girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Bell), he takes a vacation to Hawaii only to find Sarah at the same hotel he’s staying at, with her new British beau.

The good: Segel, the next in line to fulfill his Judd Apatow apprenticeship, has written one of the most true-to-form romantic comedies of all time.

Even with the irreverent humor and the strategically placed gross-out gags, Segel adds a touch of sincerity and anecdotal stories to make “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” not only another hit for Apatow’s gang of rapscallions, but also one of the most awkward, nail-biting comedies to come out in years.

Playing the part of the lovable loser to perfection, Segel is a well-defined and developed persona to which any guy can easily relate. Sure, he gets broken up with while he’s stark naked, and he also bawls his eyes out every time he has sex with someone other than his ex-girlfriend. But all of these little glimpses into the real life of Segel will make anyone involved in a relationship feel a little more humble.

The film itself is voyeuristic in the sense that most of these things actually happened to Segel in real life, and he’s sharing his embarrassing exploits with the world. The part of Sarah Marshall is supposedly written about Segel’s “Freaks and Geeks” co-star and former flame, Linda Cardellini.

The awkward scenes between Peter, Sarah and her new rocker boyfriend Aldous are extra cringe-worthy just because the situation is probably more fact than fiction.

You can’t have an Apatow production without the obligatory small roles written for the members of the group. Jonah Hill thankfully turns up as an obsessive homoerotic waiter; Paul Rudd plays a permanently baked surf instructor named Chuc; and William Baldwin steals every scene he’s in as the one-line spouting detective on “Crime Scene.” Each small role provides for the perfect comedic relief while the romance is happening in the other frame.

The bad: Even though Segel brings it in this movie – and I mean really brings it in comparison to Apatow’s other works – “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” lacks the commanding supporting cast that is prevalent in “Knocked Up,” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin.”

Mila Kunis has come a long way since “That ‘70s Show,” to effectively play the role of a free spirit, but she’s no Katherine Heigl or Catherine Keener.

Apatow makes these films with his talented group of buddies, but until he finds a female muse that can go toe-to-toe with Segel or Seth Rogen, the male leads will always overshadow their female counterparts.

The lowdown: “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” contains the perfect blend of raunchy comedy and romance that can be enjoyed equally by those who break hearts, and those who have their hearts broken. If a film with graphic male nudity and a rock opera about Dracula is universally hailed by critics, you’ve done something right.