Review: I Love You, Man

Soon, we find ourselves in a bromantic comedy as Peter goes out on several dates trying to find the perfect friend. Everybody is willing to help, even his fiancé who sets him up with the husband of one of her girlfriends. The husband is played by Jon Faveau and he is not a match made in heaven for our hero. This is a nightmarish guys night out where Klaven attempts to do the manly thing, but fails miserably. Much of what could have been just another dumb comedy, is elevated by Mr. Rudd and even the supporting cast. I would easily use the term laugh out loud funny, as there were a few jokes I probably missed because you couldn’t hear them over an appreciative audience. Even when a joke falls flat, another one comes along that makes you forget about the missed opportunity.

While this story could have been ridiculously silly and unbelievable, director and co-writer John Hamberg bring an honest to goodness freshness to it. And the ridiculously good casting doesn’t hurt either. When Peter finds “the one”, a true dude among dudes named Sydney Fife (played by Jason Segel), they become a match made in bromantic heaven. While Rudd does teeter into Steve Carell mode in THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN a bit, it still works quite well aside from a couple of lapses. I liked the constant use of trying to come of with absurd nicknames for his new buddy, but it did grow old after awhile. Yet, with Rudd and Segel, they make it all work with an incredible chemistry between the two of them. I also found it an absolute pleasure to see Klaven’s parents played by the extremely talented J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtain. Both of these actors are so good together that it is a shame they couldn’t have been utilized more.

A good comedy has the ability to stay with you for awhile and force you to try and tell your friends about the hilarity that ensues. Usually, your re-telling fails miserably as you describe what was actually a laugh out loud moment. But with this film, the comic set pieces are so funny, you might even get a chuckle when sharing with others. When the two men meet at an open house that Klaven is running, the reason that Sydney Fife gives for going to that particular event is classic. I will never look at an open house the same way again. And before Peter meets Sydney, he finds a man with a deeper interest than he was looking for with Lonnie (Joe Lo Truglio). And yes, he claims that tongue was involved. I’d rather not give away too much about the exploits that go on because what is a good comedy worth if all the jokes are given away?