Comic moments make "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" one to remember

At a word-of-mouth preview of the new comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," women screeched -- screeched -- whenever the camera cut to star Jason Segel casually putting his full Monty on display.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" uses nudity like an electrical jolt. Now you see it.

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Now you see it again.

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"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" marks the directorial debut of a promising filmmaker named Nicholas Stoller. But the movie bears the fingerprints of its producer, Judd Apatow, who has given us the smartest, crassest and kindest collection of romantic comedies so far this century: "Knocked Up," "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Superbad." Heck, let's throw in "Anchorman," too.

You can spot an Apatow movie, whether he directs or produces it, by noticing how every character, no matter how small, gets a significant amount of attention to flesh out a personality.

More Coverage Video 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'

Easy villains don't exist in an Apatow movie. Everyone, no matter how seemingly stupid or insidious, winds up being surprisingly sympathetic by the closing credits.

Segel, who wrote the hilarious screenplay to the sassy and sweet "Sarah Marshall," finds an ideal Apatow protagonist in the underachieving Peter Bretter.

He works as a TV show composer, currently assigned to a "CSI" clone where he creates "dark and ominous" background music. The series stars Billy Baldwin and Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), Peter's supposed girlfriend.

In a quick montage, we see how Peter has become Sarah's doormat, always in the background or in a subservient role. So, it's no surprise when she announces to Peter they're through. She has found Aldous Snow (a superbly cast Russell Brand), a pretentious British rock star.

After crying his eyes out to his stepbrother (Bill Hader), Peter agrees to get away from it all by going to Hawaii -- where he runs into Sarah and Aldous on their vacation. Peter is too proud to leave.

So he stays.

And is miserable.

For all of its crass and delinquent humor, "Sarah Marshall" zeroes in on the real pain of a romantic breakup. It sympathizes with Peter, the break-upee, without turning Sarah into a (rhymes with "witch") or him into a prince.

Even Aldous, who would be a thief or liar in a formula Hollywood romantic comedy, comes off as the film's most up-front and honest character, if not always likable.

Don't worry about Peter. He gets plenty of support from a pretty hotel staffer named Rachael played by a stunningly charismatic Mila Kunis, an Adlous-worshipping hotel lackey played by Jonah Hill, and a constantly stoned surfing instructor played with flawlessly under-cranked comic flair by Paul Rudd.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is a bold movie that uses its honest R rating to its best advantage. It's an adult comedy complete with the elements that come along with romance: sex, ego, pain and joy and conflict.

This movie skillfully sidesteps most genre cliches, and scores so many memorable comic moments that audiences will be laughing about them for days.

My favorite takes place when poor Peter, in a moment of weakness, admits that his dream is to launch a rock opera version of "Dracula," but with puppets.

Yep. Peter wants his own gothic version of the Broadway musical "Avenue Q."

His could be called "Avenue Cute."

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall"

Three and a half stars (out of four)

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd.

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller.

Other: A Universal Pictures release. Rated R for nudity, sexual situations, language.