I Love You, Man

Review by Matthew Rodgers

King of the sleeper hit, the unsung hero of the “nerd herd”, “frat pack”, or whatever they’re being called this month, and the genuinely funny bloke that was Phoebe’s husband in Friends; Paul Rudd is fast becoming a stamp of quality for the comedy genre. Forgetting last years interminable, Over Her Dead Body (everyone has to get a pay cheque), he was excellent way back when in Cluless, nearly stole Forgetting Sarah Marshall with minimal screen time, and has his first real bona-fide starring role in last years wonderful Role Models. Now he is teamed up with Freaks & Geeks (an Apatow TV show that was cancelled after one season, yet remains a veritable goldmine for comedic talent) alumni Jason Segal for this brilliant bromantic comedy.

Peter Klaven (Rudd) is facing up to the prospect of marrying his too-good-to-be-true Fiancée, Zooey (Rashida Jones) without having any real male friends – “I’ve always been a girlfriend kinda guy”. Unable to bond with any of Zooey’s friend’s husbands, in particular a wonderfully pig-headed Jon Favreau, Peter is given her blessing to go on a series of “ManDates” in order to find a best man. With advice from his gay brother Robbie (Adam Samburg – SNL) he embarks on this mission of awkward liaisons, before meeting Sidney (Segal), a well-meaning nice guy who may be the B.F.F. he was looking for.

Writer/Director Jon Hamburg almost pulls off the amazing feat that is avoiding the pratfalls of clichés in the comedy genre. There are no heightened personalities, not even the gay characters (shock!), everyone except maybe Lou Ferringo is a believable person. There are hardly any ridiculous set-pieces that descend into farce. This is a simple story about two guys finding friendship that just happens to be hilarious thanks to the winning performances of the main players. Its only when the narrative dictates that there be a third act “conflict” that things get slightly ridiculous, but its forgivable because of the hilarity that bookends it.

Segal was excellent in Sarah Marshall, here that same sad sack routine is pepped up with the more cheery Sidney, an honest, likeable turn that makes his friendship with Rudd all the more convincing. They both bounce of eachother in a way that all of the best double acts do, the relationship is really rather sweet, Peter attempting to give Sidney a nickname – “Jobin?” is particularly funny and equally endearing.

And that’s the over-riding feeling that emanates from I Love You, Man, yes there are masturbation jokes and the odd lazy dog poo gag, but it’s really just a superior romantic comedy that happens to be about two guys. I Loved this, Man…..