I Love You, Man

Posted on April 15, 2009 at 9:55 am by lkeddie | Permalink

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Released 17th April 2009

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Hollywood comedy is nicely evolving, it seems, exploring new territory and role-reversing the formerly established plot-lines. It’s big news for ‘bro-mance’, and we have the Apatow gang to thank for that since the days of The 40 Year Old Virgin. However, I Love You, Man may have that ‘Apatow touch’, the film-making entrepreneur is nowhere to be found on the credits. Instead, his ‘lead supporting’ actor, Paul Rudd, steps into the main role, finally, allowing us full flow of his sharply observant, quietly insane but, conversely, sensitive and inventive comedic talent, and giving us an sight into what men really think when the ‘marriage’ word comes up.

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However, just when things get a little too personal and touchy-feely, the macho crudeness and bodily-functions gags are never far from the surface, brought to the boil by a combination of Rudd with another Apatow gang member who was the epitome of needy bro-mance in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jason Segel. The pair brings a rather average script to life, with gifted Segel as the eternally adolescent Sydney Fife stealing some of Rudd’s thunder, at times, as he breezes into Peter Klaven’s (Rudd) life and turns it upside down. Rudd adopts the ‘punchbag’, sensitive lead (usually reserved for other actors in his previous films for his characters to ‘taunt’) allowing the situation around character Peter to escalate out of control, until he decides to fight back for what’s important. Rudd dumbs down his usual toxic brand of retort in this film, so that we might be charmed and warmed to his plight - and he does this very effectively.

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As with Sarah Marshall, the women are the stronger, peripheral characters as the film-makers explore that mysterious world of the male psyche with lots of silliness and dollops of seriousness long the way. That said sassy Jaime Pressly is highly memorable as the ball-busting and dominant Denise, wife to Neanderthal hubby Barry, played by the ever hilarious Jon Favreau. In a nice contrast, Rashida Jones as Zooey, Peter’s fiancée, provides the cutesy, feminine character in the film, alongside the token desperate gal, Hailey, played by a funny Sarah Burns. All in all, a lot of thought has gone into the contrasting personalities in the film but, sadly, the writing lacks development of these in some areas.

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In a refreshing sense I Love You, Man visits fairly unchartered territory in film comedyland - that of the equivalent of ‘male PMT’. It is stimulating to watch more intelligent bro-mance, even if the standard smutty, fraternity-focused, slapstick moments are still a-plenty, as though without them, such work would not make the grade. This film is an absolute must for Apatow and Rudd fans to add to the ever-impressive, growing comedy or ‘dramedy’ library.

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By Lisa Keddie

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Synopsis

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Peter Klaven is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey, discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward “man-dates,” before meeting Sydney Fife, a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But the closer the two men get, the more Peter’s relationship with Zooey suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between his fiancée and his new found “bro,” in a story that comically explores what it truly means to be a “friend.”

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Film Facts

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Official site: http://www.iloveyouman.com/intl/uk/

UK Release Date: 17th April 2009

Director: John Hamburg

Writers: John Hamburg, Larry Levin

Cast: Paul Rudd (’Peter Klaven’), Jason Segel (’Sydney Fife’), Rashida Jones (’Zooey’), Jaime Pressly (’Denise’), Jon Favreau (’Barry’), Rob Huebel (’Tevin Downey’), Thomas Lennon (’Doug’), J.K. Simmons (’Oswald Klaven’), Andy Samberg (’Robbie Klaven’), Sarah Burns (’Hailey’)