“I Love You, Man” is not just the title of Paul Rudd and Jason Segel’s new bromantic comedy.
It is also what I would say to either of these actors after seeing their incredibly funny and original movie. “I Love You, Man” tells the story of Peter Klaven (Rudd) who needs to find a best friend to be his best man for his wedding to Zooey (Rashida Jones). After several man dates, Peter meets the slightly erratic Sydney Fife (Segel). They become fast friends, but possibly at the cost of Peter and Zooey’s relationship. ?
I had high hopes for “I Love You, Man” based on the cast and director. Segel was amazing in my two favorite television shows ever (“Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared”), and Rudd was great in several Judd Apatow movies not to mention my sixth grade favorite “Clueless.” Director John Hamburg also directed some of my favorite episodes of “Undeclared.”
Theirs is my favorite kind of humor. While “I Love You, Man” was very funny, it wasn’t the sidesplitting, over-the-top comedy I was expecting. It wasn’t super-raunchy like the trailers made it out to be; it was actually kind of sweet sometimes. That’s not to say there weren’t still some dirty or gross parts, because there were. Peter projectile vomits in one scene and because I am severely emetophobic, this scene was more disgusting and made me more uncomfortable than even the lewdest sex jokes, which there were plenty of.
The characters of Peter and Sydney, plus their relationship, are what make the movie truly funny and worthwhile. Peter tries so hard to impress Sydney and makes up the dumbest nicknames, and he’s totally relatable. Despite his awkwardness, Sydney, and the audience, instantly likes him. Sydney is freaking insane. At one point, he fights none other than The Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno. He has some anger issues but toward pretty ridiculous and irrational things, which of course makes for good laughs.
Though very different, the friendship between the two men is very believable. The best display of this and probably my favorite part in the movie was the Rush jam session montage. The combination of funny dudes and great classic rock made it a very fun scene.
The acting in the movie was great. It was nice to see Rudd play a more responsible, romantic-ish character instead of the perverted friend he’s played a few times recently. Segel plays crazy very well. In both “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared,” Segel plays a hopeless romantic crazy. In “I Love You, Man” he’s expanded his “crazy” repertoire to include, well, downright crazy crazy. He doesn’t hold back at all, and I don’t think the movie would have worked had he toned down the insanity.
Though completely nuts, Sydney is still lovable, and that’s thanks to Segel’s acting. Had he executed the role differently, the viewer could get annoyed with Sydney and not root for the “bromance” like we’re supposed to. Rudd and Segel work so well together, and their real-life friendship translates across the screen. It’s an actor’s job to be believable, so I wouldn’t say two actors who had never met couldn’t play the parts, but I don’t think it would be as good as it was with Rudd and Segel.
Funnily enough, I’m pretty sure two “bromosexuals” sat in the seats behind me when I saw the movie. They even had the typical guy “I’m not gay” seat in between them. It’s nice to see that a movie about dude love can bring together some super- tough macho guys.