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“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” strips away the pretense that males are always the tougher sex.

From its earliest moments, in which lovable lump Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) lets his girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), dump him while he’s not wearing any clothes, the film seems determined to get to the, or at least a, naked truth about relationships. The conclusion? Women can be jerks as easily as men can.

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is the latest film from the fold of Judd Apatow, the director, writer and producer who’s been dominating the world of comedy with movies such as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.” Apatow produced this one, which Nicholas Stoller directed from Segel’s script.

While all of the Apatow-handled films feel related, they’re different enough that it’s tough measuring them against each other. Which is the funniest? My guess is, the one the viewer relates to most.

These movies focus on males — from high-school seniors to 40-year-old electronics-store clerks — who need a nudge into maturity. That usually comes from the more self-aware women around them.

Raunchiness, gross-outs and frank, strong language are givens. The full frontal male nudity here is unusual, but it’s too funny to be offensive.

Besides, Peter isn’t someone you want to see naked. He’s a tall guy who isn’t fat, really, but is the opposite of ripped. He looks like a cookie-dough man just before it goes into the oven.

Peter and Sarah have been together five years. She stars on the TV show “Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime” (think “CSI” meets “Baywatch”), and Peter writes the music for the series.

After Sarah breaks up with him, Peter falls apart. He tries wallowing in self-pity and having meaningless sex, but he can’t get his life back on track. He decides to vacation in Hawaii at a resort Sarah always raved about. Naturally, Sarah is there, with her new boyfriend, rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).

Encouraged long-distance by his brother, Brian (Bill Hader), Peter looks for ways to forget Sarah. He stumbles into an infatuation with desk clerk Rachel (Mila Kunis) and gets words of wisdom from surf instructor Chuck (Paul Rudd). However, Sarah and Aldous always seem to be around, rubbing their lust in Peter’s face.

Segel’s outline is fairly predictable, but what elevates it is his hilarious dialogue and the fact that most of the characters defy what they first appear to be. No one is all good or all bad, and the twists of the story reveal depth in the main players.

While Segel is likable as Peter, he leaves room for flaws that show his growth. Bell is right on as a self-absorbed TV star, while Kunis is delightful as the wary local. British actor Brand steals numerous scenes as self-styled sex god Aldous.

Segel’s show-biz jabs add yet another element to the fun. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” sometimes follows the joke instead of the story, but its sweetness and goofiness make it hard to resist.

R for sexual content, language and graphic nudity.

4 stars (out of five).

Contact Knoxville News Sentinel film critic Betsy Pickle at pickle@knews.com.