Movie Review - “I Love You Man”
*** 1/2 STARS
In “I Love You, Man”, Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (played by Rashida Jones from “Parks & Recreation”), discovers that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to fix the situation by embarking on a series of side splitting “man-dates”. Peter eventually meets a laid back single guy (played by Jason Segel) who shares his passion for the band Rush and they both fall head first into a serious friendship.
I have to say that romantic comedies are my least favorite genre of film. There are some exceptions of course but as a theory I will always avoid any film that stars Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson or Matthew McConaughey. A newly recent trend in cinema has been the male romantic comedy or “bromance” film. This new perspective from the sensitive “every day” guy has not only been effective in comedies such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Pineapple Express” but I think it adds a much needed mature side to funny testosterone driven films.
Paul Rudd has become the new hot male star of these modern day forward thinking comedies because he comes off as authentic and real. With “Role Models” he showed us his stubborn stereotypical male side without becoming grating or down right piggish. In “I Love You Man” you can’t help but fall in love with his awkward and clumsy character. In any other film Rudd’s character would have been portrayed as being gay or weak, but good writing and great performances show that male relationships can be sincere. The same can be said for the brilliant supporting acting by Jason Segel who steals every scene that he is in.
Sure one of the jokes in this film is two guys saying “I Love You Man”, but nowhere does the screenplay show any hints of homophobia, which has always been a problem in male buddy flicks. This film doesn’t talk down to the audience, it actually has a lot to say about how men share their emotions with eachother (so ladies make sure you see this movie!). I rarely use the term, but this may be one of the best “date movies” ever created. I laughed a lot in this movie and at times I was genuinely moved, and in a male romantic comedy what else can you ask for?
Leave a Reply