I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man may feel like another Apatow company production, but it's mostly because some of its "stock" company players (I put quotes as it's both a loose term and just about right) like Paul Rudd and Jason Siegel. They give the air of using the screenplay as the easiest of diving boards into just shooting-the-hell-of-it with one another as two friends. Rudd plays a guy about to get married and is embarrassed to find out, from all those around him more than anything, that he doesn't have many, or really any, true friends. He meets Siegel at an open house for Lou Ferrigno (he's a real estate agent and Ferrigno fills the oddball cameo choice, it's a great choice though), and the two hit it off as a "bromance" develops.

It's this "bromance" that makes I Love You, Man a little interesting as a double-edged romantic comedy. It's already about Rudd and his to-be played by Rashida Jones, their little moments of fun and their arguments too (there's a cute running gag involving Rudd's imitations of the band Rush sounding like an Irishman), but then it's also got plenty of innuendo to this being really about the guys, how Siegel gets attached to Rudd in that way that surely isn't gay but is more than just casual acquaintance stuff (see his "investment" plan unfold). But truth be told it's not even this that makes I Love You, Man so funny.

Rudd and Siegel are simply funny guys, but naturally so; there's a new trend to put a somewhat straight face on gross out gags in these movies, Apatow or its spin-off groups (one can equate it to the good rip-offs of Tarantino in the 90s to a certain extent), and it works very well here. It's like a sweet blending of Curb Your Enthusiasm awkwardness (if, of course, nowhere near the genius of that, especially with story) and some of the low-brow Adam Sandler stuff and joyfully useless banter and non-jock male bonding. It's not any better or lessor than recent stuff from Siegel and Rudd; you could watch this with either Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Role Models and be satisfied about the same. Again, plot is not at all the strong suit, but if you just want some cleverly obvious comedy dialog it's a good detour.

At the least, we get one of the funniest lines of the year, or just in years, near the very end: "I love you... Broseph Goebbels!"

Delightful and hilarious comedy that celebrates friendship, love, and the awkwardness of adult bonding. This film is a feel-good gem that had me laughing out loud and smiling from ear to ear throughout the entire ride.

First and foremost, the chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jason Segel is pure gold. Their bromance is the heart and soul of I Love You, Man, and their comedic timing is impeccable. Rudd's endearing awkwardness and Segel's laid-back charm create a dynamic duo that's an absolute joy to watch.

The film's humor is smart and relatable, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that hit the mark. The witty banter and hilarious situations the characters find themselves in add to the film's charm. It's a comedy that doesn't rely on cheap gags but instead delivers genuine and authentic laughs.

At its core, I Love You, Man is a celebration of friendship and the importance of having meaningful connections in adulthood. The film explores the sometimes awkward and challenging process of making new friends as an adult, a theme that resonates with many viewers.

The supporting cast is another highlight, with great performances from Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, and the always-funny JK Simmons. They add depth and humor to the story, creating a well-rounded ensemble that elevates the film.

The film's heartwarming moments are just as delightful as its humor. It balances comedic moments with genuine emotional beats, making you invest in the characters' journeys and root for their friendships.

Furthermore, the film's soundtrack is an absolute delight, adding to the overall enjoyment of the movie. The music perfectly complements the tone of the film and enhances the viewing experience.

In conclusion, I Love You, Man is a heartwarming and hilarious comedy that celebrates friendship, love, and the joys of adult bonding. With its brilliant performances, smart humor, and genuine heart, it's a movie that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good comedy that celebrates the beauty of friendship, I Love You, Man is the perfect choice. It's a charming and uplifting film that reminds us all of the importance of having great friends in our lives.

Kevin Klaven (Paul Rudd) hasn't a friend in the world - or so he realizes when he becomes engaged to Zooey (Rashida Jones) and finds he can't come up with a single male buddy to be in his wedding party. The solution? Go out and make some platonic guy friends, even if it means having to rely on your mommy (Jane Curtin) and your gay younger brother (Andy Samberg) to help you do it. Eventually, after a number of faltering attempts, Kevin alights on Sydney (Jason Segel), a mucho macho bundle of testosterone who, like a latter-day Henry Higgins to Kevin's Eliza Doolittle, instructs the awkward lad on the fine art of "being a man." But as with any good teacher/pupil relationship, each side winds up learning a little something from the other before it's all over.

A straight man far more comfortable in the company of women than of men, Kevin emerges as the ultimate metrosexual figure: fastidious in demeanor, sensitive to the needs of others, and courteous to a fault (he even admits to liking "The Devil Wears Prada" in a moment of unguarded weakness). He doesn't really know how to roughhouse it with the boys, and any efforts he makes in that direction inevitably lead to failure. Until our man Sydney steps into the breach to give him a few badly needed pointers, that is.

Smoothly directed by John Hamburg, "I Love You, Man" is a relaxed, breezy and sharply written male-bonding comedy that - miracle of miracles - doesn't play down to its audience (it may be crude at times, but it's rarely childish). The Hamburg/Larry Levin screenplay does a clever job poking fun at the double entendres inherent in any modern-day bromance, though one wishes certain characters - Kevin's family members, in particular - had been allotted a little more in the way of screen time. That being said, the performances are all first-rate, with Rudd and Segel playing to their respective strengths - Rudd's of the tongue-tied, self-effacing Mr. Nice Guy who needs lessons in "manning up," and Segel's of the refreshingly blunt but socially indelicate Man/Child who clearly needs to do some growing up.

There's additional excellent work from J.K. Simmons, Jamie Pressly, Sarah Burns and Rob Huebel, among others.

It's also a bit of a casting coup to get both Jane Curtin from the first generation of SNL players and Andy Samberg from the current one together in the same film. Finally, some unlikely cameo appearances by Lou Ferrigno and the band Rush, all appearing as themselves, add to the spirit of fun that permeates the film.

Peter (Paul Rudd) is engaged to Zooey (Rashida Jones) and he suddenly realizes he doesn't have any close friends...no one who could be his best man. So, he goes about trying to meet more guys and develop friendships...but mostly very unsuccessfully. However, one new guy he seems to hit it off with is Sydney (Jason Segel)...a strange guy who definitely walks to his own drummer. But because Sydney is such an odd guy and Peter is spending so much time with him, it also causes complications. What type and how do they all get worked out? See the film and find out for yourself.

I really enjoyed this film but can pretty much guarantee many won't...such as my wife. This is because the film is filled with many awkward moments....scenes that make your skin crawl a bit. I actually LIKE that sort of humor...but it's certainly not for everyone.

Easily the single most important thing in any comedy is its strike rate when it comes to the jokes. "I Love You, Man" isn't very good from a visual technical perspective (in fact some of the direction is downright heavy-handed and annoying), but the screenplay and cast keep this comedy consistently funny. There are no terrible scenes, almost every joke is at least mildly amusing (at least until the slightly shaky final act of the film), and there's as much smart humor as there is dumb gross-out stuff (not 'intellectual', 'smart'), and Rudd, Segel and in a smaller role Jon Favreau really nail every line. The comic timing makes this movie.

Above all else "I Love You, Man" is a triumph of comedic acting. The screenplay, by director John Hamburg and Larry Levin (perhaps most notable for writing Seinfeld classics "The Limo" and "The Boyfriend"), is often very funny, but on more than one occasion falls completely flat, and also reveals a dependency on catchphrases and repeated jokes which could have killed the movie. If I were reading the screenplay and 'slap da bass' was said for the hundredth time I would just sigh and throw it in the trash. With Paul Rudd's impeccable comic timing and genuinely convincing take on his character (which, like the rest of the characters here, is really not brought to life by the writing all that well), it had me in stitches.

I don't want to take too much credit away from the screenwriters because this is a (very) funny and enjoyable comedy, but I do have to mention that where "I Love You, Man" falls short of the standard for Apatow productions (and although it's hard to believe this is not one) is in the characterizations. It's far from being as raunchy as those, and is not really as frequently over-the-top, so you'd think there would be more space in the writing for good quality characterization, but these characters are all really thin, and with a lesser cast the movie would not have been nearly as much fun. Now, to the screenplay's credit there are a lot of very effective comedy set-pieces, and the movie's consistently funny. I do suspect it's all a cunning plot to bring back Lou Ferrigno jokes, but the cast pull even THAT off (that includes Ferrigno himself).

The entire movie falls apart just a bit when we get to the inevitable wedding scene, but it's not enough to really undo the movie (which almost veers into "*insert crappy lowbrow maudlin sentimentality-laden wedding comedy here*" territory before quickly recovering), and while "I Love You, Man" only provides a few truly uproarious laughs it is a consistently amusing movie which kept me and the audience I was with giggling and laughing throughout, and Hamburg as director gets the comic timing absolutely right, much like Segel and Rudd do. This is probably the best movie in which Rudd has played a lead role, and is definitely better than last year's "Role Models". The difference in the quality and smarts of both movies is evident in that "Role Models" has a lot of KISS jokes and "I Love You, Man" has a lot of Rush jokes (and an appearance from Rush). It's just a smart and funny movie, and while not a classic for several reasons I've already talked about, it is always funny and isn't that really why we go to comedies, to laugh?