Smart. That’s the best way to describe Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the new comedy from the dudes behind Forty Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. While the film has its share of big laughs and spontaneously humorous dialogue, what will really win audiences over is the likeability and heart of the picture’s writer and star Jason Segel.

Things are great for Peter (Jason Segel). He has a great job writing music for a hit television drama, and not only that, he is dating the show’s superstar leading lady, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). After five years of living millions of male TV watchers’ fantasy, Sarah comes home and dumps Peter out of the blue. Devastated Peter tries dating other women, but he just can’t seem to forget Sarah Marshall. At his friend’s advice, Peter flies off for an exotic vacation in Hawaii. Being surrounded by newly weds and happy couples Peter begins to realize his destination of choice might have been the wrong place to go. Things only get worse though when Sarah shows up at the same resort, cuddling up with European rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).

With the success of Forty Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Superbad there are certainly some movie-goers who are waiting for Apatow Productions’ winning streak to run out. Luckily audiences won’t soon forget about the group’s latest feature, which continues their string of successful raunchy rom-coms. The secret to their success is vastly different from other contenders in the genre. Rather than trying to out due one another with grotesque humor or countless sequels, Apotow Productions has a unique secret that keeps their films afloat, new talent.

Last seen as a supporting character in Universal’s mega comedic hit Knocked Up, Jason Segel gets the opportunity to not only star in a feature length comedy, but to write the picture too. Like any major talent with something to prove Segel delivers solid work. The screenplay is filled with zany and awkward situations that poke fun at singles looking for love after the big breakup. Humorous montages and likeable side characters make Peter’s road to forgetting Sarah Marshall inexplicably fun.

Of course it isn’t just what the characters do, even though watching a heavy set Hawaiian force Peter to kill a live pig is one of the most shocking comedic moments ever set to film, it’s the way they all speak that makes watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall such a pleasure. The dialogue is so naturally absurd, yet undeniably entertaining, that Segel makes a rant about the freshness of his cereal outrageously funny.

Ultimately Sarah Marshall, like other Apatow, R-Rated romantic comedies, follows the standard issue, chick flick formula, but, thanks mostly to its crude humor, it is quite an entertaining adventure for the testosterone driven audience too. Of course the addition of two gorgeous female leads doesn’t hurt either, especially since an average-Joe main character shows audiences that it is possible to court these stunners.

While the production value of the film seems sub-par for a big budget feature, featuring some obvious green screen work where characters look matted onto their backgrounds and a few blatant continuity errors, it’s a testament to Segel’s great script and endearing performance that these faults don’t detract from the overall product. The inclusion of some fantastic Jim Henson puppetry doesn’t hurt the package either. A quirky twist, Peter is writing a rock-opera starring puppets, and the silly plot device leads to an incredibly unique and hilarious reunion.

With only a few minor technical glitches, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is about as close to a perfect comedy as you can get. With loveable characters and scenarios you’re guaranteed to be quipping down the road, Universal has this summer’s sleeper comedic hit on their hands. Yes, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one comedy that is worth remembering.

-Joe Russo 

Click Here to Read our Exclusive, Sit Down Interview with Writer/Star Jason Segel!!