I Love You, Man Review

Bromance 101: I Love You, Man Review
by M. R. Brown

There is no real inventive nature to I Love You, Man, nor does anything unpredictable really happen . The premise of the film is quite simple; a guy is getting married to a beautiful woman. The only snag is this guy has no guy friends and needs to find one so he can have a best man. Plot problem? This guy has a very capable younger brother to be his best man. Overlook it, the movie is brilliant without it.

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a painstakingly awkward yet loveable character. He has a charming and supporting wife, Zooey (Rashida Jones), who pushes him to finding that special guy. Klaven’s search has him dining old men and making out with young men. Finally he happens upon the laid back Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) giving way to fart jokes, Lou Ferrigno, Pistol Pete references, Jamaican bass playing, and “The Holy Trinity.” Complications inevitably surface.

Rudd and Segel are outrageous, perfect and a comedic goldmine. The film has all the feel of a Judd Apatow flick without the Judd Apatow fat that drags movies on. You can’t help but cringe along with Klaven as he tries to play it cool around Fife, blundering countless banters with expressions like “totes maggotes.” Rudd has the uncanny ability to bring the human element into a movie where you would never expect such depth in a character.

John Favreau and Jaime Pressley play hilarious supporting roles as the time bomb best friend couple of Zooey’s. Klaven’s younger brother, Robbie (the Saturday Night Live stand-out Andy Samberg), round out this wonderful cast.

Segel, fresh off proving his chops in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, splits lead with the long-underrated Rudd, riding his comedic wave since Role Models. After countless cameos that often make the movies their in, Rudd finally has become a full-fledged leading man. His timing and wit could not be more spot on.

I Love You, Man is the best comedy of the year and deserves every bit of praise you will see it post in the critic-certified T.V. trailers. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.