The comedy is about Peter, who had long accepted that he was the guy left holding the TV star’s purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from acceptance award speeches. However, his world is rocked when Sarah dumps him and he finds himself alone. After an unsuccessful bout of womanizing and an on-the-job nervous breakdown, he believes that not having Sarah in his life may forever ruin it.

To clear his head, Peter takes an impulsive trip to Oahu, where he is confronted by his worst nightmare: his ex and her hip new British-rocker boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand, St. Trinian’s, Penelope), are sharing his luxury hotel. But as he torments himself with the reality of Sarah’s new life, he finds relief in a flirtation with Rachel (Mila Kunis, TV’s That ‘70s Show, Family Guy), a beautiful resort employee whose laid­back approach tempts him to rejoin the world of the living. He also finds relief in several hundred fruity cocktails.

The capacity to fall deeply, madly in love is fundamental to humanity. As is the inevitability of having our hearts painfully, inextricably torn apart. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is an example of how in the darkest of places, there is the funniest of comedy.

The casting process began as Segel and the filmmakers searched for the perfect woman to play the title character-a self-centered yet sympathetic, bossy but lovable, dumper of Peter. Kristen Bell was cast on the spot after her audition as Sarah, the self-indulgent television star of hit procedural show Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime. Says Apatow: “Her Sarah Marshall and Jason’s Peter Bretter had great chemistry. Her shutdown nature and sarcasm were really funny against his puppy-dog vulnerability. They made an interesting, horrible, funny couple.

“Kristen’s character was fun to develop,” he continues. “I always think it is fun to satirize people in show business. Making fun of television shows, cop shows and stars of shows are just ripe areas of comedy.”

Bell was sold by her co-star’s screenplay. “Most romantic comedies tend to be very predictable, but there is a reality to this script,” she commends.

“Jason wrote a very three-dimensional story. Everybody is trying the best they can, and you can see all sides of every situation.”

Producer Robertson offers of the film’s female lead: “Kristen was the right person to play Sarah Marshall because you have to, at moments, love her and other times be disgusted by her. Kristen can play both and have you glued to the screen either way, laughing out loud.”

In addition to the two leads - Segel (Knocked Up, television’s How I Met Your Mother) and Bell (TV’s Veronica Mars, Heroes) - the film also stars Paul Rudd (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Jonah Hill (Superbad, Knocked Up), Bill Hader (Superbad, television’s Saturday Night Live), Jack McBrayer (television’s 30 Rock, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) and Maria Thayer (Accepted, Strangers With Candy).