Peter Bretter's having trouble forgetting Sarah Marshall. The post-breakup sex with random hookups always — and quite literally — ends in tears. At work, as the composer for her TV show, her face is perpetually in his. And at home, even the Tupperware reminds him of her.

So he heads to a Hawaiian resort to get her — and their now defunct five-year relationship — out of his head. Of course she's there, with her new boyfriend, Aldous. Of course so is a sweet (and hot) woman sympathetic to his plight. And of course the usual romantic comedy set pieces — uncomfortable encounters, intense rivalry, simple misunderstandings, heartache, a Dracula musical with puppets — ensue.

But this Judd Apatow production typically knocks genre conventions on the head — albeit less successfully than the genuinely tender 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up'. Written by star Jason Segel of 'How I Met Your Mother' fame, the story's a little clunky but stuffed with so many oddball characters (priapic English rock star, sexually confused honeymooners, permanently toasted surf instructor) and offbeat situations (naked breakup, unconsummated make-up) that you can look past the familiarity and flaws.

Segel's Peter is really just a foil for the verbose ramblings of lunging lothario Aldous (Russell Brand), nonsensical clichés of brain-fried beachbum Koonoo (Paul Rudd), and incessant meddling of his nerdy half brother (Bill Hader) who all take turns to hijack his film. But Mila Kunis, as the sympathetic (and gorgeous) rebound girl, and Kristen Bell, as the less-than-perfect Sarah, are less overpowering, working well with Segel to light up the necessary warmth, tenderness and heartbreak — or at least balance out the puppetry and nudity.

Extras:

A riotous commentary — featuring all the major players, with Bell checking in via cellphone — proves that the fun wasn't limited to the screen. Brand is, as usual, hilarious, but Segel himself dominates, nonchalantly revealing that many of the most outlandish details come from his own life. Essential. Equally impressive are the alternate improvised scenes showing the comedy genius of the main players, and the deleted scenes which reveal that, should his acting career go to pot, Jonah Hill shouldn't resort to waiting tables. Oddly there's no generic "making of" featurette, with behind the scenes footage limited to a clearly delighted Segel revealing how the puppet musical finale came together.