I Love You, Man Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Are You Man Enough To Say It?
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?
| Paul Rudd | Peter Klaven |
| Rashida Jones | Zooey |
| 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 |
| Rob Huebel | Tevin Downey |
| Colleen Crabtree | Female Co-Worker #2 |
| Kym Whitley | Female Co-Worker #1 |
| Caroline Farah | Female Co-Worker #3 |
| Mather Zickel | Gil |
| John Hamburg |
7.80 out of 10 (13071 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Great Potential, Ruined by Filth
posted on 31 Aug 2009Ok, even the premise of this movie brings up an immediate question in my mind: If you don't have any male friends, why don't your father and brother make the list for best man/groomsman?
This movie had enormous potential. Paul Rudd is a complex and talented actor. This movie has some very funny moments. However, (and, I should have suspected this to be the case in ANY R-rated COMEDY) these funny moments, and the movies vast bulk of POTENTIAL, were steeped and mired in an all-pervasive vulgarity, licentious behavior and rude, crude and obnoxious "jokes." For those who care about such things, God's name is also abused too many times to count.
These things are INEXCUSEABLE in a COMEDY that would have been funnier WITHOUT all this impure trash, tripe and sacrilegious additions which have been "hung on" to this movie and seem to be without any merit other than to "smut up" the movie. Apparently Hollywood thinks this type of tripe necessary. Hollywood doesn't learn very quickly.
One would THINK the dollar signs from "The Passion of the Christ" would be enough to get their attention, and signal that quite a majority of folks prefer more wholesome entertainment. One may think that, but one would be wrong. Hollywood doesn't seem to be ABLE to learn that lesson, no matter how much money movies like that make.
If they remade this movie and even toned it down to normal everyday* behavior and language, this COULD BE quite a good movie. Until then, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
*(I know they cry realism to defend this type of execrable refuse, but I do not know anyone who acts and talks in this way, and certainly not to this degree--and as a physician, I am acquainted with quite a range of human behaviors!)
Funniest movie I've ever seen!
posted on 31 Aug 2009Seriously...I have never laughed so hard watching a movie and I'm not even exaggerating...I had tears running down my face most of the time.
If you like stupid humor and don't mind ALOT OF CURSING along with slight sexual humor and marijuana smoking, then this movie is for you.
If you have sensitive ears...do not watch this movie.
That said, I saw the movie with my mom, and even though she is completely against marijuana and cringes at the thought of so much cursing, she was still laughing 'almost' as hard as I was...she just said she wouldn't recommend the movie to any of her friends...lol.
I'm definitely buying this movie as soon as it comes out!!!
Great movie.
posted on 31 Aug 2009I don't know about the first guy, and american homophobia and its relation to this movie. All I know is every guy has a friend their wife hates. Essentially thats what this movie is about. Not the love between guys blah blah. Yes guys love each other especially our close friends, and who doesn't talk about their sex lives with their buddies? That first guy is an idiot!
OH MY GOD NOT THESE GUYS AGAIN
posted on 31 Aug 2009Seriously these guys make like a hundred movies a year since there debut in KNOCKED UP in 2007.Its seriously getting really annoying especially since i work at the movie thetare its so sad there constantly makeing films man they need the money that bad. The movie was alright worth to see BUT DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH on the dvd wait till it comes on tv and pay like under 5 dollars for it.
"Man-dates"
posted on 31 Aug 2009"I Love You, Man"
"Man-dates"
Amos Lassen
"I Love You, Man" is a very smart comedy starring Paul Rudd (as Peter Klaven) and Jason Segel (as Sydney Fife). It's all about relationships between men. When Peter realizes that all of his friends are women, he decides to go on a journey to find male friends. Besides, he is getting married and in need of groomsmen.
Peter goes on a series of "man-dates" and the movie becomes more fun by the minute. Peter becomes tongue-tied as he searches for the perfect man, Peter's young brother played by Andy Samberg is gay and he and his mother (Jane Curtin) help fix Peter up with his straight male dates. The gay jokes fly but they are in no way offensive. There are some very funny moments here.
All of the performances are excellent and this is the perfect flick for a summer afternoon.
Men Need Love Too...
posted on 31 Aug 2009Paul Rudd, alum of several Judd Apatow movies such as Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin, stars as Peter Klaven who, mere weeks away from his wedding to Zooey (Rashida Jones of "The Office" fame), realizes that he has no male friends. This isn't due to social ineptitude, however; Peter gets along well with both sexes but primarily his sensitivity is attuned to friendships with women. In order to seek out a best man aside from his gay brother (SNL's Andy Samberg) or father, Peter goes on several "man dates" in order to deepen his pool of males with whom to bond. One man in particular, Forgetting Sarah Marshall's Jason Segel, appropriately fits the bill, and the two men embark on a friendship that forms the core of this movie.
I Love You, Man explores an interesting facet of male relationships, an area often twisted in other movies into homosexual innuendo. Fortunately, though, the story of I Love You, Man doesn't take this path, instead choosing to enlighten the viewer through crude humor, slapstick comedy, and witty discussion. Though not written by Apatow, those who saw his aforementioned movies will undoubtedly enjoy what this movie brings to the table. Rudd and Segel are a great comedy team; it's nice to see Rudd especially break out on his own. There are several points throughout the movie where the "man dates" closely resemble heterosexual dates, and Rudd shows his acting skill at making the situation uncomfortable for both his character and the viewers.
All in all, I Love You, Man is a solid comedy, closely following Knocked Up as a movie that can be enjoyed both by men who enjoy off-color humor, as well as women who will appreciate the emotional back-and-forth between the characters involved. Recommended.
Full of cliches and guy humor that you have heard and seen before
posted on 31 Aug 2009Not only is I Love You, Man a huge commercial for Lou Ferrigno and The Incredible Hulk, it is also a tribute to guys who have gone too far across the line in "being there" for their girlfriends. Guys who have no friends and find yourselves hanging with your girlfriend's buddies, this movie was made for you!
Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a woman's best friend. He is the guy that other guys laugh at but all women use as an example of what they wish their guy could be. He is the guy that you see massaging his lady's feet and helping her pick out shoes in the mall. He is successful, charming and madly in love with his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). The only thing missing from his otherwise perfect life is the ability to bond with other males and maintain friends outside of his mom and dad. Thus I Love You, Man is a movie about Peter's quest to obtain a Best Man for his wedding. Through a process of trial and error he goes out with gay guys, old men and weirdos until he finds Sydney Fife (Jason Segal). The two hit it off mostly due to Sydney and the result is the same 'ol thing we have seen a million times, the lead up, the downer and then the rising crescendo.
I laughed a lot but it was all the same, the main character had the flaw of being a complete idiot (and cornball) around men and becoming one of the girlfriends when around his fiance. This didn't sit well with me because I know guys like this and they really do make me sick... seeing 2 hours of THAT guy was enough to make me vomit. Sydney being the friend to bring Peter back into the realm of manhood turns out to be a character of youth being trapped into an adult who cannot commit or grow up. There is a shallow undertone to the entire movie that I disliked despite my laughter... Reall Sydney just could not be a regular guy huh.
The bright spot in the comic relief to me was the chemistry of Jon Favreau and Jamie Pressly as the angry married couple Barry and Denise. Whenever these two were on screen it made for tons of laughter versus the main protagonist and his cookie cutter girlfriend Zooey. Many times I had to cover my face in embarassment for Peter whenever he opened his mouth. He is so corny you are forced to feel embarassed for him even as an audience member.
Full of cliches and guy humor that you have heard and seen before and annoyingly repetitive jokes that make you want to pull your ears off. I Love You, Man had all the potential to be great but settles at good due to overkill on certain aspects. By all means watch it but I recommend it more for THOSE guys who have no friends outside of their women. It's a good wake-up call and very accurate in certain aspects of male relations.
Likable Characters Make It Work
posted on 31 Aug 2009Peter (Paul Rudd) is a successful real estate agent engaged to a smart, attractive woman named Zooey. The problem is Peter has no close male friends and envies the relationships Zooey has with her gal pals. But, after meeting a testosterone charged but insightful guy named Sydney (Jason Segel), he begins to appreciation the joys of male bonding.
This film has it's share of gross out gags and low brow humor, some of which are funnier than others. But it's really the connection between Peter and Sydney which makes the movie work. I give most of the credit to the acting chops of Rudd and Segel as the script itself is rather uneven. But both of the main characters are likable enough for the audience to root for, otherwise this "buddy flick" could have been a serious flop. I still consider "Adventureland" to be this year's best comedy and would encourage filmgoers to see it first. But this one has enough laughs and enough smarts to make it worthwhile.
WHY I WENT TO SEE THIS MOVIE FOR A SECOND TIME
posted on 31 Aug 2009"I Love You, Man" is a sophomoric comedy -- and audience members laugh in response to whatever degree they find enjoyment in this silly genre, with its contrived plot devices, preposterous visual gags, characters' idiosyncrasies and occasional over-the-top vulgarity. But, intentionally or not, the filmmakers in this instance have also incorporated a biting social commentary and political statement about gender issues. So -- for viewers attentive enough to notice, midst their mirth -- lurking in the comedy's requisite happy ending lie undertones that not only raise sobering questions but suggest a strong potential for darkness in the characters' future lives. The thoughtful, introspective, aspects of the movie were what compelled me to go see it for a second time -- just to examine them more closely.
What a depiction "I Love You, Man" provides of personal relationships among the chic, moneyed, postmodern, urban elite!
Zooey (gorgeous Radisha Jones) lives in Los Angeles and is the Third Wave feminist woman par excellence -- bold, assertive and independent (successful in a creative, all-female-run business) -- yet simultaneously happy to indulge herself with the "girly" stuff in life (sleeveless, low-cut dresses, make-up, fashionable haircut, etc.). Unlike the Steinemesque battleaxes who upheld the more radical tenets of Second Wave feminism, Zooey does not regard marriage as a repugnant, oppressive institution. Instead, it is a potentially enjoyable lifestyle option. Although some Third Wave feminist women feel no need to accessorize the lifestyle with an actual man (pop singer Concha Buika announced in the March 2009 issue of THE ADVOCATE, apparently in all seriousness, "I'm going to get married with my own self."), Zooey feels differently. And immediately after accepting a proposal from Peter (charming Paul Rudd), she quickly calls her girlfriends to announce the good news -- just as if she were letting them know about the acquisition of a new handbag with which to accessorize an outfit. Her cavalier disregard for the sanctity of their relationship visibly hurts Peter, as she dishes about even its most private aspects. But he remains silent. Like most chic, moneyed, postmodern, urban elite men, it does not even occur to Peter to protest. Unconsciously or not, he obediently and unquestioningly accepts his proper place in relationship with a feminist woman: under her thumb.
Treating men like dirt is a taken-for-granted prerogative among Zooey's girlfriends, and -- as always with feminist women -- their primary bonds of loyalty are to one another and not to the men in their lives. One of Zooey's closest girlfriends, for example, thinks nothing of accepting a call on her cell phone from Zooey during the middle of dinner in an elegant restaurant where she has been taken on a date. Another girlfriend is married but tells Zooey -- without even consulting her husband -- that Zooey is welcome to stay with them indefinitely, for years, if Zooey likes.
Men, if they want to have relationships with feminist women at all, have no choice but to accept their second-tier status in the realm of emotional connectedness -- and Peter does. All is fine, therefore, as he and Zooey begin to plan their nuptials. But then -- in one of the most wonderful depictions of male bonding I've ever seen on screen -- Peter becomes close friends with a societal iconoclast, Sydney (delightful Jason Segel). Unencumbered by slavish conformity to the politically correct behavioral pretentions of Peter's social set, Sydney enables Peter to embrace heretofore ignored possibilities of his own individuality, and Peter becomes less concerned with people-pleasing and comfortably relaxes into a richer sense of his own self. When Peter asks Sydney to be best man at his wedding, Sydney is overjoyed.
At an engagement dinner, Peter introduces Sydney to Zooey, her fellow Third Wave feminist girlfriends, and other chic, moneyed, postmodern, urban elite people who are ostensibly close to Peter (but not really). In a very compelling speech, Sydney declares that Peter is "honest" and "kind" and a very GIVING man who never expects anything in return. Then, speaking directly to Zooey, Sydney says that it would behoove her to try to be giving toward to Peter. Because Sydney sees right through the various social veneers of everyone in the room, however, his words are indirectly meant for the others too.
In Sydney, Peter has not only found a pal, but an ally in the affirmation and defense of his manhood and basic human dignity.
Such intimate male/male friendships used to be commonplace in our society, but -- for a multitude of reasons -- over the course of the past century they have become increasingly rare. Peter and Sydney do NOT relate to each other in a way that is typical of men. Far more often, at best, men occasionally enjoy friendships imbued with SOME of the affection, camaraderie and devotion that Peter and Sydney experience with each other. This is because, for all the feminist movement's high-minded rhetoric about establishing "equality" between the sexes, the postmodern feminist woman balks (as Zooey does) at the very first hint of relinquishing any of her longstanding domination of men's emotional lives. Sometimes -- as appears to be the case with Zooey -- she is too self-absorbed even to perceive how much power she wields, to the point of being utterly unaware of how badly she abuses it. Indeed, postmodern feminist women frequently rule in the realm of emotion with such uncompromising ferociousness (albeit in cunning, covert or superficially demure ways) that most men -- like Peter, until the arrival of Sydney is his life -- exist in a state of complete obliviousness to their own utter powerlessness.
The Peter/Sydney friendship, then, is not so much a depiction of what exists between male friends, but the filmmakers' wishful suggestion of what MIGHT exist. Indeed, in my judgment, the Peter/Sydney friendship has more love in it than any other relationship in the film.
But will the friendship last? It meets with trouble, and there is a temporary break between the two men. But then, at last, Zooey accepts and endorses the friendship, and the way is paved for it to thrive indefinitely.
Or is it?
Tellingly, the script only permits the men to declare their love for each other -- an audacious act in today's world (and beautifully and movingly performed in the movie) -- under Zooey and her girlfriends' direct supervision. The friendship meets with their approval, and thus the film ends on an upbeat note.
But it is one matter for a woman to allow her man take off now and then for an all-male poker game -- or to excuse him for a weekend of camping with a buddy or two -- and quite another to tolerate an ongoing, intimate male/male relationship of such deep mutual emotional and psychological sustenance that it does not even require sex to maintain its intensity.
Women are correct when they state that there are some things about themselves that only other women can fully relate to -- and the bonds of sisterhood, whether literal or figurative, are both celebrated by women and respected by men.
Conversely, there are some things about men that only other men can fully relate to. But can 21st century men become as deeply bonded with one another as did so many of our male ancestors during, say, the 19th century?
Many women give lip service to the idea that the answer is "yes," but only a tiny minority of them will actually endorse it with any sincerity (I personally know a few women who do, and they are gems; none are feminists). And among men themselves, it tends to be a subject that they'd rather not even think about. It can be very scary for a man if he discovers and then begins to act upon his potential to establish a loving bond with another member of his own sex. Far more disturbing than the potential to raise neighbors' eyebrows with questions about sexual orientation is what men understand -- if only in an inchoate way -- about the catastrophic consequences they may suffer with their girlfriends and wives. If a male/male friendship becomes too close for women's comfort, it will, in all likelihood, be punished with excoriating ridicule, belittling, scoffing, name-calling ("overgrown little boys"), and possibly outright ostracism for "failing to cherish the women in your lives."
In the case of Peter and Sydney, their love for each other is well-established, and it is a thing of amazing beauty and delight. Also, it has Zooey's endorsement -- for now.
But -- it bears repeating -- she is a feminist. For her, then, female "empowerment," by definition, inextricably intertwines itself with the misandrist disempowerment of men. Therefore, it would be out of character for Zooey's endorsement not to be anything more than a passing flight of fancy. Like most of the people watching the movie, she has never seen anything quite like this friendship before, and it can be a lot of fun to see the two men together. But once the friendship's novelty diminishes and it ceases to be so amusing for Zooey, her original endorsement of it -- even if deeply sincere in the moment -- is highly subject to revision.
The waxing and waning of fashionable attitudes is a pronounced aspect of feminism's history, and it may well be only a matter of time before Zooey changes her mind and sets about, slowly but surely, to destroy the Peter/Sydney relationship. In her mind, if only unconsciously, Peter will belong back in the position where familiar comfort once lay for both of them: under her thumb. If she follows this tack and fails, however, then she will probably abandon the marriage for some other lifestyle option that doesn't undermine her position of supremacy in the realm of emotion (the acquisition of -- and devotion to -- pets is one favorite alternative for many such women). And if Zooey succeeds in destroying the friendship, she may abandon the marriage anyway -- because by capitulating to her wish and dumping Sydney, her husband will now have proven how "weak" he is and thereby cease to deserve her respect.
Maybe I'm completely wrong about Zooey, and, instead, the filmmakers see in her someone much deeper and less Narcissistic than the average Third Wave feminist woman, or, someone with potential to move beyond the feminist ideological mindset. Maybe her marriage won't turn sour after all, and she and Peter will continue to find happiness together. If so, then I would be absolutely delighted to see a sequel that tells this story and depicts Zooey growing, personally, as much as Peter has grown in the first installment. But if she doesn't grow, then, if a follow-up sequel is ever created about the characters, basing its story in reality will very likely yield a title something along the lines of "I Love You, Man -- Part 2: Zooey Throws A Tantrum And Files For Divorce."
A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT AUDIENCE RESPONSES: An interesting study for a sociologist would be to travel the country and gauge audience responses to "I Love You, Man" in different markets. The first time I saw "I Love You, Man," it was in St. Augustine, Florida (in many respects, basically a small southern town): when the two men declared their love for each other, there was a bit of delighted chuckling in the audience, but this exquisite moment of male/male intimacy essentially elicited deferential respect. The second time I saw "I Love You, Man," it was on Manhattan's Upper West Side ("the underbelly of the beast" of political correctness, according to bestselling author Bernard Goldberg, and a bastion of feminism): if men laughed in response to the same scene, I couldn't hear them; women's laughter -- harsh and contemptuous -- rocked the auditorium.
Oh God, Not Another One
posted on 31 Aug 2009A raunch fest for the under 35 crowd. Infantile sexuality apparently still gets a of laughs. What I couldn't understand was why the theater was filled with elderly Russian-Jewish immigrant couples. I also couldn't understand why I allowed a younger relative of mine to convince me to go with him to see this film.
Man-Date mandate
posted on 31 Aug 2009Don't let the title fool you, this is a very couple-friendly film and at its core it is essentially about relationships in general and not just those Platonic bonds formed between men. The last scene is a bit of a chore to sit through since you know how it's all going to turn out and the film is HEAVY on the Rush music, but it has a plethora of great characters that deliver solid laughs throughout the film.
The Rebirth Of Platonic Love Between Men!
posted on 31 Aug 2009The United States, in general, is quite a homophobic country. Men are expected to have platonic feelings of love only for immediate family members, such as parents, grandparents, siblings and their own offspring. Sharing one's nonsexual feelings of love outside this tiny world is basically considered taboo. In other cultures this is certainly not the case, something I had the good fortune to experience first hand!
I Love You, Man does a superb job of comparing and contrasting heterosexual women's emotionally rich, same-sex friendships with heterosexual men's typically barren, same-sex friendships. It exposes the hypocrisy that it's okay for women to hug and be emotionally close and talk in graphic details about their sex lives amongst themselves, but NOT for a man to do the same exact thing!
What a refreshing and insightful film! This brilliant story also compares male homosexual and heterosexual same-sex relationships and on the surface, at least, they are indistinguishable! This might be news to some people - but all well-adjusted human beings have a yearning for emotionally rewarding relationships!
And, one person can not fulfill ALL your emotional needs! It's really that simple!
Thank you Hollywood for taking such a risk in making such a profound film with a great sense of humor! It shows you believe a certain segment of the American public is mature enough to want to explore the meaning of platonic love between men!
Platonic Studies
Rudd and Segel Explore the Next Great Bromance
posted on 31 Aug 2009Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) has just proposed to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones, TV's "The Office"). As Zooey tells all of her friends and family, she asks Peter if he wants to use the phone to tell his friends. But he doesn't really have a lot of friends, as his dad (JK Simmons) reveals one night at dinner with the family. Yes, Peter always had more female friends, chimes in his mom (Jane Curtin). Peter suddenly realizes he will have trouble finding a Best Man for the wedding. Zooey encourages him to try to find some friends, but she isn't concerned about the wedding party being unbalanced, even after her BFF Denise (Jaime Pressly, TV's "My Name is Earl") brings the subject up. But Peter decides he needs to find some friends and meets a bunch of possibilities, including a strange guy his gay brother (Andy Samberg, "Saturday Night Live") sets him up with. Then, he meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segal, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall") who has crashed an open house Peter is hosting at Lou Ferrigno's home. Peter is a real estate agent and is trying to sell the home to make a huge commission and develop a real estate plan of his own. They go out a few times and Peter decides to introduce him to Zooey. But both Zooey and Peter talk to their friends a lot, and share very personal things, which comes back to haunt both of them.
"I Love You, Man," co-written by John Hamburg (writer of "Meet the Parents" and writer/director of "Along Came Polly") and Larry Levine ("Dr. Doolittle") and directed by Hamburg, is a very funny movie.
Very much like a Judd Apatow film, Hamburg and Levine have created a natural universe for their characters to romp through. Perhaps the best thing about this film is that almost every lead character has a real basis in the real world. They get involved in strange and wacky situations, but because we believe they could exist, these situations are funnier and more interesting. Every film is better when there is at least a small part of it based in reality. If these characters exist in a real world, what happens to them, what they do, how they react, everything is funnier because we feel it could happen.
Paul Rudd has become so great at playing the Confused, Awkward Caucasian it is almost becoming his stock character. In "Man", he uses all of his trademarks (awkward statements, attempts to fit in with the rest, nervousness) to make Peter a very funny guy. A lot of the humor from this character, and most Rudd plays, are that they all initially seem so normal. Peter is a Real Estate Agent with dreams to develop his own property. He is in love with his girlfriend. Everything is good in his life. Everything is normal. But then he begins to listen to Zooey's friends gossip about his lack of male friends and begins to wonder if he should have a few of these guys to call his own. He begins to worry that his lack of friends may have some affect on the wedding and begins to become frantic with worry and indecision. The word gets out, he tries to capitalize on some relationships with casual acquaintances and he begins to meet other guys, testing the waters to see if he has any potential BFFs out there.
In most comedies, this would be the moment for the laughs to flow. Each of the guys would provide a brief, funny moment because they are simply so out of left field you can't help but laugh at their quirky behavior. And this is the case in "I Love You, Man". One of the potential friends is a guy whose voice seems to be changing, even though he is in his mid thirties. Seemingly oblivious to this fact, he begins to call out chants at an LA Galaxy soccer game, coming close to starting a riot because everyone simply wants him to shut up. Zooey's best friend, Denise (Pressly), pushes her husband to include Peter (Jon Favreau) in his next guy's night out. Peter is all for it, but can't handle the excitement too well, providing the film's required Gross Out laugh.
But what sets "I Love You, Man" apart from the rest is Rudd's portrayal of Peter. Peter isn't just an average straight guy, designed to allow all of the other funny people to do their shtick. Peter is normal, but he also has a sense of humor and can laugh at himself. Because he has never had many male friends, when he tries to set up get-togethers with some of these potential friends, his phone calls are awkward to the point of embarrassing and he comes across as a teenager calling a girl for their first date. These moments are what help make this film stand out.
Jason Segel, who was so memorable in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall, plays Sydney, a man who crashes an open house hosted by Peter. They strike up a conversation and Sydney provides keen insight to the realtor. "That guy needs to fart. Look at the way his cheeks are clenched", he says while pointing at a guy across the room, a guy who is using the open house to try to impress a good looking lady he is trying to date. Sure enough, he appears to be right as the guy in question does exactly what Sydney says he will. Peter is intrigued and decides to give him a try and they begin to spend time together. Peter seems to be attracted to Sydney because he is a much more unconventional guy. He spends a lot of time at home, working only when absolutely necessary. He seems to have a lot of quirks and may even be a little crazy. All traits that Peter doesn't have.
A side note: As Peter tries to appear Sydney's equal; his attempts to seem 'cool' are hilariously awkward.
Segel is funny as Sydney, but less original in the role. We get it, he's a slacker. He plays with his band equipment during the day, he has strange personal habits, and he likes to lay around his house when he should be working. And a lot of what he does is funny. But because he is a slacker, we sort of expect him to act like he does and it just seems less interesting and original. At one point, he asks Peter to give him some money for an investment, that's what Sydney does, invest, but Peter still becomes suspicious.
The more time these two spend together, the more uninhibited Peter feels in his presence. They begin to share a lot of personal information and Peter starts to spend more time with him than with Zooey. Unfortunately, both of these points shoot the story into a pretty familiar place and because it still manages to make us laugh we continue to go along for the ride.
The supporting cast is universally good. Jane Curtain has a few nice moments as Peter's mom and JK Simmons is remarkably fresh as his dad. Andy Samberg plays his gay brother, a nice supporting role with some funny moments. This is a smart move for Samberg. His first starring role in "Hot Rod" was a resounding dud, so he appears to be building his career back by taking smaller, more memorable roles in better films. And he continues to provide a lot of laughs on "Saturday Night Live". Jaime Pressly and Jon Favreau are hilarious as Zooey's best friend and her husband. And the rest of the guys who play Peter's potential BFFs are all funny for their moment in the sun.
"I Love You, Man" is a very funny film even with the few wrong steps it takes. Go and buy a ticket.
I Love You, Man
posted on 31 Aug 2009Peter's (Rudd) best friends are all women. He has no realy guy friends. So, upon his engagement to Zooey (Jones), the question arises of who will be his best man. His only real choices are his father (Simmons) and his brother (Samberg), who aren't really the best of choices. Peter embarks on a number of man-dates in an attempt to meet a new best friend. They go wrong in many ways, and when Peter is ready to give up, he meets Sydney (Segel). They bond in Sydney's "man cave", jamming to songs by Rush and just hanging out. The friendship is going so well that soon Zooey is feeling left out.
I've been a fan of Paul Rudd for a while now, and it is good to see him headlining a film. He and Segel have good chemistry in what is essentially a romantic comedy between two straight men. Despite its share of raunchiness, there is some unexpected sweetness too. "I Love You, Man" is an enjoyable film, and I recommend it.
The Comical Fate of the Sensitive Male
posted on 31 Aug 2009At the core of what looks on the surface to be a standard summer buddy movie is an intriguing premise: What does become of the overly sensitized male when confronted with the reality that all his closest friends are female and that he is at a complete loss to find any groomsmen, in particular, a best man, for his wedding? It's not an earth-shattering dilemma to address, yet the situation gives rise to a lot of amusing questions about what constitutes masculine behavior in our supposedly evolved society. Fortunately, director/co-writer John Hamburg (Along Came Polly) has fashioned a 2009 comedy (with co-writer Larry Levin) full of shrewd observations and hilarious gags that transcend formula and elevate the story into something fresh and genuinely likeable.
When sweet-natured L.A. real estate broker Peter Klaven decides to marry Zooey, his girlfriend of eight months, it dawns on both of them that he has no close male friends. Whispers about his manhood and her fear of him being too clingy as a husband lead Peter to set up a series of disastrous man-dates, one being the predictable mistaken gay date. However, it's at an open house at Lou Ferrigno's manse that he meets his personality opposite - Sydney Fife, a slovenly, blunt albeit socially observant slacker. As it turns out, their differences complement one another in a way that makes them best buddies almost from the get-go - that and a common obsession for the 1970's power band Rush. Naturally, Zooey starts to resent Sydney's burgeoning role in Peter's life - and things get complicated before the inevitable conclusion.
Two of Judd Apatow's familiar rep company star. Finally at the center of a major movie, Paul Rudd is ideally cast as Peter since the role takes advantage of how he combines his boyish charm and unpredictable nebbishness into a memorable character. In fact, he manages to give Peter's awkward attempts to overcome his social anxiety a certain emotional resonance. We feel every painful step he takes in replicating Sydney's free spirit, and it becomes easy to root for his success. Much better cast here than as the self-conscious lead in last year's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jason Segel offers his doughy likeability to a role that suits his casual, lumbering personality, even when he exposes an intimate secret between Peter and Zooey in a wedding party dinner toast.
If the interplay between Rudd and Segel feels familiar from Apatow comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, it is a coincidence that Hamburg takes full advantage of to keep the movie comically involving. Rashida Jones brings a raspy appeal to Zooey, although she is kept mostly at the sidelines. Also underused are Jaime Pressly as Zooey's tart-tongued friend Denise and as Peter's parents, J.K. Simmons (playing the same wiseass father he played in Juno) and especially Jane Curtin. Jon Favreau has a thankless role as Denise's alpha-male jerk of a husband, while Andy Samberg makes a most unconvincing gay as Peter's sleep-around, personal trainer brother. There are plenty of laughs throughout its slightly long 105-minute running time, but what may surprise you is the number of insightful moments that this affectionate, satirical comedy provides.
Welcome to the Man Cave, Bro
posted on 31 Aug 2009Sometimes half-baked scripts happen to great ideas. Sometimes terrific performances come to the rescue.
Writer/director John Hamburg's "I Love You, Man," the latest installment in the frat pack franchise, makes it over the threshold from washout to winner by the skin of its teeth. Co-writer Larry Levin's premise - a man is about to marry his ideal woman but must embark on a series of "man dates" to find friendship and a hopeful best man for the wedding - is not only overdue but lends itself to a multitude of opportunities, a veritable comedic goldmine. The script does not succeed in exploiting most of them, but stars Paul Rudd and Jason Segel have the chemistry and comedic chops to convince viewers it has.
Rudd, as protagonist Peter Klaven, overcomes a great deal -a less attentive actor would trip over Peter's stilted, often unbelievable dialogue, but Rudd successfully avoids the bulk of the script's obstacles.
Peter is a button-down real estate salesman set to marry Zooey, played by the lovely Rashida Jones. When he overhears a conversation among Zooey and her friends that his friendlessness could lead not only to a shortchanged wedding party but to his long term clinginess he takes a more proactive approach with his personal life for Zooey's sake as well as his own. After some hilarious setbacks brought on by his well-intentioned brother Robby, gamely played by Andy Samberg, he meets Segel's Sydney Fife and the "bromance" is soon under way.
Rudd makes us root for Peter even though he makes a consistent fool of himself. He stumbles over frat house lingo and mannerisms in inexplicably overzealous effort to endear himself to the cool, laid back Sydney, but he has no learning curve. It brings to mind Steve Carrell in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," but here it makes Peter unbelievable and momentarily unsympathetic. Segel succeeds at portraying Sydney Fife as the ideal archetype - the impulsive, charismatic, self-effacing, fish taco-eating, Rush concert-going buddy every guy would like to have on speed dial - but this makes it difficult to stomach that he himself would have a short list of friends (one of whom is enslaved to watching "Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium" every weekend with his kids) or that he would put up with some of Peter's more questionable antics.
Hearty hilarity nevertheless makes up for thinness of plot. Scenes involving baffling billboard ads, eventful clothes shopping and a toast gone awry, as well as what it implies, provide some of the best moments, and Thomas Lennon is a hoot as Peter's opportunistic colleague. Lou Ferrigno is also a welcome addition in an extended cameo role as one of Peter's disgruntled clients, while Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly are darkly funny as Zooey's friends, at each other's throats by day and at it like bunnies by night. J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtin round out the cast as Peter's eccentric parents.
Importantly, the movie manages to be sincere, even touching, in the way it portrays the re-christened nature of male friendships circa 2009. The humor associated with this exploration, hinging though it does on an uneven script, comes off endearingly. Comedy after all is less dependent on characterization than delivery - "I Love You, Man" aims to please on many angles and succeeds where it counts for a carefree night at the movies.
It was Enough
posted on 31 Aug 2009This wasn't a complete laugh every moment kind of movie. Though there was enough laughs to keep me entertained throughout the film. A talented cast of actors and wacky characters make this a fun bromance movie. To quickly summarize--A man who is getting married realizes that he has no real close male friends, so before the wedding he goes out to find a friend and a best man. What follows is a collection of odd ball try outs while he is also trying to sell Lou Ferrigno's house. I enjoyed this one, and I will most likely pick it up on dvd.
The Funniest Movie of 2009 so far
posted on 31 Aug 2009 I Love You Man is about a newly engaged man named Peter (Paul Rudd) that always had girls as friends. After over hearing his fiancee Zooey (Rashida Jones) and her girlfriends talking about how he doesn't have a best man. He decides to go on man dates and find one.
After failing a few times in some hilarious scenes, he meets Sydney (Jason Segel) and they hit off right away. They bond mostly due to their love for the rock band Rush. Peter feels that he finally found his best man, except Zooey doesn't like how Peter is spending more time with Sydney than he is with her. She doesn't like a lot of Sydney's love advice either. A really funny scene is when he gives her some advice in front of family and friends.
The movie is constantly funny and it's also a smart film about friendship. While Paul Rudd and Jason Segel make a great team.Together they're very funny. Paul Rudd though gets many laughs when they aren't on screen together. When he tries to sound hip and cool and creates his own catch phrases or nicknames it's hilarious.
i love this movie, man!
posted on 31 Aug 2009one of the more funnier romantic comedies in recent years, and that's saying a lot, because for as many romantic comedies that do get released in any year, not many of them are actually funny, let alone worth seeing...but this film right here, with paul rudd, jason segel, and the lovely rashida jones(daughter of music icon/producer quincy jones) will renew you interest in movies of this canon. this movie is given an "r" rating for good reason, as there are curse words galore, and crude sexual humour throughout, which is a funny thing when done right, and not for shock, as some comedies of late happen to do.