I Love You, Man (2009)

Director:

John Hamburg

Writers (WGA):

John Hamburg (screenplay) and
Larry Levin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Are You Man Enough To Say It?

Plot:

Friendless Peter Klaven goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond with his new B.F.F. puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée, can the trio learn to live happily ever after?

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Best Man | Wedding | Best Friend | Friendship

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Paul Rudd	...	Peter Klaven
Rashida Jones	...	Zooey Rice
Sarah Burns	...	Hailey
Greg Levine	...	Hailey's Date
Jaime Pressly	...	Denise
Jon Favreau	...	Barry
Jane Curtin	...	Joyce Klaven
J.K. Simmons	...	Oswald Klaven
Andy Samberg	...	Robbie Klaven
Jean Villepique	...	Leanne (Davis Dunn Receptionist)
Rob Huebel	...	Tevin Downey
Kym Whitley	...	Female Co-Worker
Colleen Crabtree	...	Female Co-Worker
Caroline Farah	...	Female Co-Worker
Mather Zickel	...	Gil
Aziz Ansari	...	Eugene
Nick Kroll	...	Larry
Liz Cackowski	...	Zooey's Friend
Kulap Vilaysack	...	Zooey's Friend
Catherine Reitman	...	Zooey's Friend
Carla Gallo	...	Zooey's Friend
Vicki Davis	...	Zooey's Friend
Josh Cooke	...	Alan (Bench Press Guy)
Jay Chandrasekhar	...	Barry's Buddy
Seth Morris	...	Barry's Buddy
James P. Engel	...	Barry's Buddy (as James Engel)
Jerry Minor	...	Barry's Buddy
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Lonnie (Voice Crack Guy)
Thomas Lennon	...	Doug
Murray Gershenz	...	Mel Stein
Keri Safran	...	JAR Waitress
Greg Tuculescu	...	Open House Couple
Renee Darmiento	...	Open House Couple
Jason Segel	...	Sydney Fife
Anwar Sadat	...	Himself
Ian Roberts	...	Venice Boardwalk Jogger
Bob Cicherillo	...	Venice Boardwalk Bodybuilder (as Robert Cicherillo)
Ethan S. Smith	...	Sydney's Buddy (as Ethan Smith)
Nelson Franklin	...	Sydney's Buddy
Ping Wu	...	Mr. Chu
Jill Bartlett	...	Woman Leaving Sydney's House
Matt Walsh	...	Impatient Golfer
Geddy Lee	...	Himself - Rush
Alex Lifeson	...	Himself - Rush
Neil Peart	...	Himself - Rush
Raquel Bell	...	Saks Fifth Avenue Saleswoman
Lou Ferrigno	...	Himself
Melissa Rauch	...	Woman Jogger Yelling at Sydney
David Wain	...	Wedding Photographer
Dennis James Anderson	...	Hank Mardukas (as Dennis J. Anderson)
Craig Wedren	...	Wedding Band Member
Damian Kulash	...	Wedding Band Member
Timothy Nordwind	...	Wedding Band Member (as Tim Nordwind)
Dan Konopka	...	Wedding Band Member
Andy Ross	...	Wedding Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Bateman	...	Upscale Teen (uncredited)
Heather Black	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Pete Brown	...	Petes Mugeats (uncredited)
Scott Carino	...	Man at Counter (uncredited)
Colby Dant	...	(uncredited)
Kris Edwards	...	Bromancer (uncredited)
Jordan Feldman	...	Jordan (uncredited)
Gregory George Frank	...	Shopper at The Grove (uncredited)
Matt Haggerty	...	Aggravated Fan (uncredited)
Aaron Jay Kenny	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Adam Knapp	...	Bowling Patron (uncredited)
David Krumholtz	...	Sydney's Buddy #3 (uncredited)
Maynor Lopez	...	Grounds Keeper / Florist (uncredited)
Joey Magnusson	...	Gil's Wife (uncredited)
Christopher Maleki	...	Buddy #5 (uncredited)
Nicole Mandich	...	Open House Divorcee (uncredited)
Marquessa Moreland	...	Peter's Date (uncredited)
Kelly Nienaltowski	...	Venice Beach Goer (uncredited)
Dian Van Patten	...	Realtor (uncredited)
Brennan Reynolds	...	Young Guy In Couple (uncredited)
Brian Sampson	...	Carpool Driver (uncredited)
Lydia Schuler	...	Eugene's Wife (uncredited)
Carol Shook	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Aaron D. Spears	...	Terrell (uncredited)
Chris Spinelli	...	Gym Member (uncredited)
Jobeth Wagner	...	Venice Beach Goer / Concert Goer (uncredited)
Larry Wilmore	...	Minister (uncredited)
Brad Everett Young	...	Carpooler (uncredited)

Directed by
John Hamburg

Writing credits (WGA)
John Hamburg		(screenplay) and
Larry Levin		(screenplay)
Larry Levin		(story)

Produced by
Anders Bard	....	co-producer
Jeffrey Clifford	....	executive producer
Donald De Line	....	producer
Andrew Haas	....	executive producer
John Hamburg	....	producer
Bill Johnson	....	executive producer
Tom Pollock	....	executive producer
Ivan Reitman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Theodore Shapiro

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Kerr

Casting by
Allison Jones

Production Design by
Andrew Laws

Art Direction by
Eric Sundahl

Set Decoration by
Christopher Carlson

Costume Design by
Leesa Evans

Makeup Department
Matthew Kasten	....	hair stylist (as Matthew L. Kasten)
Tracey Levy	....	key makeup artist
Heather Mages	....	makeup artist
Geri B. Oppenheim	....	makeup artist
Terrie Velazquez Owen	....	key hair stylist (as Terrie Velazquez-Owen)
Nathalie Allen	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Deborah Holmes Dobson	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Wendy Southard	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Roddy Stayton	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Leah Vautrot	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Susan McNamara	....	unit production manager
Peter J. Novak	....	production supervisor
Jake Rice	....	post-production supervisor
Mark Graziano	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Heffernan	....	second second assistant director (as Matthew W. Heffernan)
Scott Andrew Robertson	....	first assistant director
Jonas Spaccarotelli	....	second assistant director
Eugene Davis	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ruben Abarca	....	drapery foreman
Isaac Amondson	....	assistant property master
Perry Bachelor	....	set dresser (as Perry Batchelor)
P. Scott Bailey	....	set dresser
Alan Baptiste	....	set dresser
Daniel Boxer	....	property master
Roxanne Brooks	....	set dresser
Dan Caplan	....	storyboard artist
Dale DeStefani	....	construction coordinator
Mariano Fernandez	....	foreman
David Harris	....	greens foreperson
Glenn Hoofman	....	plaster foreman
Eric Kelly	....	on-set dresser
Mark Larkin	....	graphic designer
Jennifer Lewicki	....	art department coordinator
Anthony J. Martin	....	labor foreperson
Robert S. McDonald	....	construction foreperson (as Robert McDonald)
Michael Mikita	....	stand-by painter (as Michael Mikita Sr.)
Michelle Millay	....	key sculptor
Matt Myers	....	assistant property master
James Pollack	....	set dresser (as James S. Pollack)
Greg Sanger	....	lead person
Chad Simpson	....	paint foreperson
Easton Michael Smith	....	lead set designer (as Easton Smith)
Darrell Vangilder	....	set dresser
Clint Wallace	....	assistant art director
Frank White	....	welding foreman
Kinney Booker	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Erin Fite	....	set decorating buyer (uncredited)
James Gambino	....	typesetting (uncredited)
Thomas D. Krausz	....	rush roadie/set dresser (uncredited)
Amy Lamendola	....	art department researcher (uncredited)
Ed Mirassou	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Carrie Roslan	....	construction buyer (uncredited)
Hilary E. Smith	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Hilary E. Smith	....	set decorating researcher (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andrew Adams	....	boom operator
Robert Althoff	....	mix technician
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound editor
Julio Carmona	....	adr recordist
Steve Copley	....	foley recordist
Barbara Delpuech	....	sound editor
Yann Delpuech	....	sound editor
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stefan Fraticelli	....	foley artist
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darren King	....	supervising sound editor
E. Niles Klein	....	assistant sound editor
Greg LaPlante	....	digital mastering
Ryan Lukasik	....	foley assistant
Justin Pearson	....	assistant sound editor
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist
Jeena M. Phelps	....	sound editor (as Jeena Schoenke)
Rocky Quiroz	....	sound utility
Ken Segal	....	production sound mixer
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Randy Wilson	....	foley recordist
Dan Yale	....	sound editor
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York (uncredited)
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Mark Kenna	....	sound consultant: Dolby, foreign language versions (uncredited)
Oleg Kulchytskyy	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Chet Leonard	....	music playback (uncredited)
Gary Raymond	....	Pro Tools music playback and recording (uncredited)
Dan Yale	....	foley supervisor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Gaspar	....	special effects supervisor
Dick Wood	....	special effects coordinator (as Richard S. Wood)

Visual Effects by
Patrick L. Almanza	....	digital artist: Level 256 (as Patrick Almanza)
Chris Chappell	....	lead compositor: Level 256
Scott M. Davids	....	visual effects supervisor: Level 256
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer
Dennis Fitzsimmons	....	digital artist: Level 256
Jalal Jemison	....	compositor: Level 256
Christopher Kutcka	....	v.p. of imaging: Technicolor Digital Intermediates (as Chris Kutcka)
Mark Larranaga	....	compositor: Level 256
Adam Lima	....	digital artist: Level 256
Jonathan Mecenas	....	imaging technician: Technicolor Digital Intermediates
Ron Perez	....	data technician: Technicolor Digital Intermediates
Anita Razzano	....	compositor: Level 256
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration: Technicolor Digital Intermediates
Mike Tosti	....	head of production technology: Technicolor Digital Intermediates
Paul Turang	....	engineering: Technicolor Digital Intermediates
Eran Barnea	....	on-set visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Ryan Beadle	....	data managment supervisor (uncredited)
Paulina Kuszta	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration (uncredited)

Stunts
Alex Daniels	....	stunt coordinator
Peewee Piemonte	....	stunts
Tim Weske	....	fencing coordinator
Jonathan Arthur	....	stunt double: Paul Rudd (uncredited)
Kristopher Blount	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danielle Burgio	....	stunts (uncredited)
TJ Cencula	....	fencing double: Paul Rudd (uncredited)
Brian Danner	....	fencing double: Aziz Ansari (uncredited))
Tony Donno	....	rugby stunts (uncredited)
Nathan Hedrick	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
David C. Hernandez	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Paul Jacobson	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Moran	....	fencing double: nick Kroll (uncredited)
Panuvat Anthony Nanakornpanom	....	stunts (uncredited)
Scott Roukema	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Dustin Szany	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Brad C. Wilcox	....	fencing stunts (uncredited)
Daniel R. Wolfe	....	fencing double: Mather Zickel (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Patrick Crowell	....	first company grip
Suzanne Dietz	....	film loader
Seong Dilg	....	dolly grip
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera
Greg Edwards	....	grip (as Gregory L. Edwards Jr.)
Michael Enriquez	....	grip
Scott Garfield	....	still photographer
David Ghegan	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as David Scott Ghegan)
Daniel C. Gold	....	camera operator (as Daniel Gold)
Bryan G. Haigh	....	second assistant camera
Samuel R. Harrison III	....	video assist operator (as Sam R. Harrison II)
Adam Harrison	....	assistant chief rigging electrician
Gregory Irwin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Nate Johnson	....	electrician
Luke Kalteux	....	electrician
Michael Kelly	....	dimmer board operator
Dave Loden	....	first company rigging grip (as David Loden)
Ross K. Marshall	....	grip (as Ross Marshall)
W. Ted Mayer	....	grip
Glenn E. Moran	....	rigging gaffer
Joey Moran	....	lighting technician
Jerry Patton	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Brooks Robinson	....	Steadicam operator
Brooks Robinson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Robert H. Santoro	....	second company rigging grip
Josh Stancil	....	first company rigging grip
Calvin Starnes	....	second company grip
Jarred Waldron	....	chief lighting technician
Hootly Weedn	....	electrician
Mark Carlile	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Alan Caudillo	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Ben Dynice	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Pete Escobar	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Mark Evans	....	additional grip (uncredited)
Nathan Dean Fetzer	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Jerry Gregoricka	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Douglas Kieffer	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Michael Kleiman	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Seth Kotok	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
David Newbert	....	grip (uncredited)
Ray Patrick	....	libra head technician (uncredited)
Joel A. Ruiz	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
John Savedra	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Ray Skinner	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Leslee Feldman	....	casting executive
Ben Harris	....	casting assistant
Tammy L. Smith	....	background casting
Dixie Webster	....	extras casting
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting: additional photgraphy (uncredited)
Daryl Eisenberg	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Suzanne Cranfill	....	costume supervisor
Trayce Gigi Field	....	assistant costume designer
Ariel Gold	....	key costumer
Molly Grundman	....	key costumer (as Molly Elizabeth Grundman)
Bradley Inaba	....	set costumer
Michelle Margolis	....	on-set costumer
Hayley Stuppel	....	on-set costumer
Ryan Lennon	....	costumer (uncredited)
Julie Shack	....	set costumer day check (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
George Chavez	....	color timer
Leilani Gushiken	....	post-production coordinator
Esther Lee	....	digital intermediate producer
Susan Mandel	....	editorial production assistant
John Persichetti	....	digital colorist
David Raymond	....	first assistant editor
Mitch Rosin	....	assistant editor
Mark Sachen	....	colorist
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor
Michael L. Sale	....	additional editor (as Mike L. Sale)
Dan Williams	....	digital colorist assistant
Justin Bourret	....	additional editor (uncredited)
Terence Curren	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Marc Fisher	....	finishing editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bryan Carrigan	....	pro tools recordist
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Chris Fogel	....	music mixer
Chris Fogel	....	score recordist
Ludwig Göransson	....	musician: guitar
Jennifer Hawks	....	music supervisor
Victor Indrizzo	....	musician: drums and percussion
Dave Levita	....	musician: guitar
Ryan McClure	....	score engineering assistant
Carin Meyer	....	music coordinator
Peter Rotter	....	music contractor
David Sardy	....	music producer: actors pre-records
Joel Shearer	....	musician: guitar
Richard Ziegler	....	music editor (as Rick Ziegler)
Christian Almiron	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Tony Mandracchia	....	guitar coach (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Vic Cuccia	....	transportation captain
Gary Edelman	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Brill	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Alan Kaminsky	....	driver (uncredited)
Melissa LaFon	....	driver (uncredited)
William P. Lafon	....	driver (uncredited)
Joel Larson	....	driver (uncredited)
Bea S. Rembeczky	....	cast driver: Jon Favreau (uncredited)

Other crew
Mike Ammerman	....	craft service
Sage Asteak	....	production assistant
Toby Burge	....	production assistant (as James Toby Burge)
Kristy Campbell	....	animal handler
Mitch Carter	....	adr group coordinator
T. Michael Daze	....	production assistant (as T. Michael Dazé)
Mike Dazé	....	production assistant
Lisa Dilenschneider	....	assistant: Mr. Haas
Jeremy Edwards	....	production assistant
Heidi Falconer	....	unit publicist
Neale Fishback	....	assistant location manager
Laura J. Fox	....	assistant accountant
Laura J. Fox	....	first assistant accountant
Estee Gabbai	....	assistant: Mr. Hamburg
Matt Gamboa	....	production assistant
Michael Garrity	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
René González	....	projectionist
John Graber	....	second assistant accountant
Jane E. Graves	....	assistant location manager
Matt Haggerty	....	production assistant (as Matthew Haggerty)
Andrea Hirschegger	....	assistant: Mr. Reitman
Alex Holcomb	....	assistant: Mr. De Line (as Alexandra Holcomb)
Emilio Hurmuziou	....	production assistant (as Emilianos Hurmuziou)
Lise Kearney	....	production assistant
Kate Kelly	....	production coordinator
Robert Jay Leatham	....	payroll accountant
Avital Levy	....	production secretary
Dan Lora	....	medic
Rachel McDonald	....	production assistant
Marc Meeks	....	assistant location manager
Michael Menzies	....	accounting clerk (as Michael Clive Menzies)
Angela Mock	....	second assistant accountant
Shauna Moss	....	assistant production coordinator
Nicole Mumey	....	production assistant (as Nicole Marie Mumey)
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (as Diane Hassinger Newman)
Kyle Oliver	....	assistant location manager (as Kyle Snappy Oliver)
Brennan Reynolds	....	production assistant
Austin Rodriguez	....	medic (as Austin Rodriguez-Greenberg)
Paul Santarelli	....	assistant: Mr. Clifford
Vinny Scavo	....	craft service
Ni'Coel Stark	....	assistant: Mr. Pollock (as Nicoel Stark)
Russell Steele	....	production auditor
Hirotatsu Taniguchi	....	production assistant
Jodi Tripi	....	stock footage researcher
Ronnie Vaccaro	....	stand-in
Nick Irving Allen	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Samuel M. Dabbs	....	title designer (uncredited)
Marc C. Geschwind	....	photo double: Jon Favreau (uncredited)
Tim Granlund	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mark Hochman	....	operator: computer and video playback (uncredited)
Harley Pasternak	....	fitness trainer (uncredited)
Adam Rucho	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jasen Salvatore	....	photo double: Paul Rudd (uncredited)
Michael Saunders	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Shelly Strong	....	production executive (uncredited)
Ross Tatelman	....	production assistant: pick-up crew (uncredited)
Brad Everett Young	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG (as DreamWorks Pictures) (presents)
• De Line Pictures
• Bernard Gayle Productions
• Montecito Picture Company, The

Distributors

• DreamWorks SKG (2009) (USA) (all media) (presents)
• Dreamworks Distribution LLC (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures International (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2009) (Chile) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Kadokawa Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2009) (Argentina) (all media)
• Veronica (2011) (Netherlands) (TV)
• WoWow (2010) (Japan) (TV)
• WoWow (2010) (Japan) (TV) (subtitled)

Special Effects

• Level 256 (visual effects)
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates (opticals)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Dawgs Sound Design  sound design and editorial (as The Dawgs Sound Design, Inc.)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Hyperion Sound  music recorded and mixed at
• Hyperion Sound  score recorded at
• Klass Security and Investigations  anti-piracy film security (uncredited)
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr group
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Modulations / Technicolor  foley re-recorded at (as Technicolor Toronto)
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Right Lobe Design Group  title design
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Runway  post-production services
• Runway  post-production
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Star Waggons  cast trailers
• Star Waggons  hair and make-up trailers
• Star Waggons  production trailers
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  opticals
• Technicolor  foley re-recorded at
• Technicolor-JRS Productions  foley re-recorded at (as JRS Productions)
• The Coach House  foley re-recorded at (as The Coachhouse)
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recorded at (as Todd-AO Hollywood)
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, including crude and sexual references

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45050) | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:R16 | Mexico:B15 | Iceland:12 | Denmark:A | Finland:S | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Norway:A | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:18PL | Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

1 Electra Ct, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Rush, who perform during the concert scene, actually played an hour long set for the cast, crew and die-hard fans who found out about the performance through online and radio buzz.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sydney is hit by the golf ball, the wound starts on his knee and is clearly shown, but later that day when he calls Pete about the Rush concert, the ice pack is now down near his foot, with no sign of the injury on his knee.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Peter Klaven:So, my plan is to create this cluster of live/work lofts all along the perimeter here. And - come here - also I'm planning this neighborhoody, kind of dining and retail area in the central square. You know I even had this thought that you, Denise, and Haley could open up a second location for your store...
Zooey:Really? Because Denise keeps talking about wanting to open up another branch.
Peter Klaven:Well it would be great. I I look, the land is a little pricey, so I couldn't develop it right away. But once I sell the Ferrigno Estate I figured out I could at least put a down payment on it, and still have enough money left over for the reception in Santa Barbara...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Conan: Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your DVDs of 'Breaking Bad' Season 3 (#2.9)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Dancing with Myself

Gut bustingly funny and actually endearing

When I first heard about this movie, I became a little irritated. The premise seemed to me like a "romantic comedy for gays" except with a few lines to make it a "bromance." It makes sense, as most guys in the target age group (high schoolers and college aged) are quite uncomfortable discussing sexual orientation in any context (Don't believe me? Try raising the topic with your best buddies). It seemed like it was wimping out instead of taking a chance and really making a movie that could make said guys comfortable about this sort of thing.

This may be the film's intention, but it hides it well. The romance between Peter (Paul Rudd) and Zooey (Rashida Jones) is well-integrated and quite important to the story. If anything, it represents a major stepping stone.

I approached this film with much trepidation; I don't especially like Judd Apatow movies. Some of the stuff is funny, but a lot of it is too understated, like Clark Duke in "Sex Drive" or "Kick Ass" (watch the trailers of either one of those movies and when the dorky kid with glasses talks, you'll see what I mean). Worse, Jason Segel wrote and starred in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," a movie of that ilk that I didn't like at all. Fortunately, none of those characteristics made into this movie. The jokes flow naturally and the film has energy and chemistry between the actors. This result is 90+ minutes of absolute hilarity.

Peter (Paul Rudd) has always been a ladies man. Women love him, and he finds them very easy to talk to. That's one of the reasons why Zooey (Rashida Jones) falls head over heels for him, and when he proposes, she accepts. But once wedding plans get underway, he realizes that he has no best guy friends to make up his share of the wedding party. So with his friends encouragement, he sets out to find a new best guy friend. After a few disastrous "man dates," he runs into Sydney (Jason Segel), a fun loving guy with a lot of advice on how to break loose and have fun.

The best thing about this movie is that everything unfolds naturally. True, it follows the familiar beats of the genre, but nothing that happens is contrived. The characters actions are genuine and make sense from what we know about them, and that makes it more honest (not to mention effective.

The leads are great. Paul Rudd tones down the "funny smartass" personality that made him famous and instead acts like a likable guy, albeit without male/male social skills and a penchant for creating bad nicknames and catchphrases. Peter is an easy guy to like, and he has good chemistry with both of his co-stars, Rashida Jones and Jason Segel. Segel is a revelation. He's one of the most likable characters I've seen on screen in a long time. He's easy going and earnest, the type of guy anyone would want as a best friend. However, some of his philosophies on life and social skills come off as scripted, and try as he might, Segel isn't able to make them sound otherwise. Rashida Jones is also very good (looking and sounding like Jessica Alba, only more relaxed). When Peter tells her about Sydney, she's excited for him. If us guys could all have such wives, we'd be in heaven. As the gay brother who is on hand to give advice about "man dating," Andy Samberg is far less irritating and obnoxious than he was in the utterly awful "Hot Rod," which is near the top of my list of one of the worst movies ever made.

John Hamburg is making a comedy, and like the best ones, he lets everything flow naturally. The humor isn't kept on mute, or drained of energy, or kept low-key. It's totally natural, and that's what makes this such a funny, and dare I say it, touching, comedy. I was actually discussing this film with my best guy friend, and the movie reminded us quite strongly of the sort of things we would do when we were in college together. Movies that have establish that kind of a connection with a viewer don't come along very often.