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Lots To Like In 'I Love You, Man'

Dreamworks Pictures

Robbie Klaven (Andy Samberg, left) advises his brother Peter (Paul Rudd) on the art of making new friends in the comedy "I Love You, Man."

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By CHRISTY LEMIRE

The Associated Press

Published: March 19, 2009

The newly minted "bromance" genre, with its now-familiar mix of the sweet, awkward and raunchy, has entered the cultural consciousness through comedies such as "Superbad," "Pineapple Express" and "Role Models."

But it reaches its zenith with "I Love You, Man," starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel as completely different guys who form an unlikely friendship.

Rudd's Peter Klaven, a sensitive Los Angeles real estate agent soon to be married, realizes he has no male pals when it's time to choose a best man. He'd rather make root beer floats for his fiancee Zooey (the lovely Rashida Jones) and her girlfriends or cuddle with her on the couch for Sunday-night HBO viewing.

Segel's Sydney Fife enters his life as the most charming force of nature, inspiring Peter to jam along to Rush tunes and tap into his inner rage. He lives in a ramshackle Venice bungalow and functions by his own set of rules, which includes wooing divorcees at open houses and refusing to pick up after his puggle because he thinks dog feces are good for the environment. Segel gives the character a well-intentioned puppy-doggishness of his own, though, which makes him unexpectedly likable.

The formula is pretty predictable from director John Hamburg ("Along Came Polly"), who co-wrote the script with Larry Levin, as well as the conflict that inevitably arises when Zooey questions their closeness. But the beauty of it lies both in the details of the relationship and the larger chemistry Rudd and Segel share. Clearly the two ad-libbed a lot of their lines.

But beyond the goofy comedy, this is a bold concept to explore in a movie that's so obviously intended for the mainstream, and for teens and 20something men in particular. "I Love You, Man" dares to get to the heart of intimate male friendships - or even, as the title suggests, love - the kind of thing most guys don't exactly feel comfortable discussing. There's an earnestness that's refreshing, and a relatable quality to Peter's vulnerability as he struggles to say the cool thing or give Sydney a spontaneous nickname. He could have come off as pathetic; instead, Rudd is so capable both with his comic timing and his subtlety, he makes us root for Peter instead.

We're onto something true and honest here, which is why it's so disappointing to see the film cater to the lowest common denominator with vomit and flatulence jokes.

MOVIE REVIEW

I Love You, Man ***

MOVIE BOARD RATING: R; for pervasive profanity, including crude and sexual references

STARS: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jon Favreau, Jamie Pressly

DIRECTOR: John Hamburg

LOCATION: See movie times, Page 9, for local showtimes.

PLOT SUMMARY: A guy without friends goes on a series of man dates to find a best man for his upcoming wedding, only to find himself wanting to spend more time with the man than his wife.

RUNNING TIME: 105 minutes

ON THE WEB: www.iloveyouman.com

Movies are rated on a scale of zero to four stars.

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