I have to preface this review with one statement: This is a totally biased review where I may take into account cinematic aspects of the movie, or I may just gush over Paul Rudd, but either way this review will be glowing. This is a statement I could have made before I even saw the movie. There are some movies that I wait and wait for from the first time I see the trailer until opening day, 3 months later. Movies that I just know are meant for me. Mostly these movies involve Judd Apatow or someone from his amazingly awesome clique of awesomeness. "I Love You, Man" was one of these movies.
A primer on my love of Paul Rudd. Ahh Paul - we first met in 1995, when he played Josh in "Clueless." I was 10 and totally in love. I couldn't wait to go to college one day and meet a guy like Josh. So you see I have Paul to thank for my postsecondary education, and also my unrealistic expectations when it comes to men. He has stayed under the radar for most of his career, something that has sometimes made me angry with him, but no matter what movie he is in, no matter if it, as a whole, is not very good, Mr. Paul Rudd never fails to deliver.
He shines in "I Love You, Man" as Peter, a real estate agent, who has no dude friends. This deficiency only becomes apparent to his fiance when they get engaged and start thinking about the wedding party. Peter decides to find a best friend, and a best man. But just how does one go about finding friends as an adult? People expect you to want to hang out with them if you think they're attractive, but what if you just think they seem cool and you want to be friends? How do you do that? In this case, it seems, finding friends is a lot like finding love; it happens when you least expect it. After an awkward, and hilarious, montage of different man dates, Peter meets Sydney, played by Jason Segel.
A mini-primer on my new affection for Jason Segel. His 2008 movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was another movie I anticipated and loved. And recently I became addicted to "How I Met Your Mother" starring Mr. Segel, so the review bias ante has been raised.
Peter and Sydney's relationship develops much like a romantic relationship, beginning with Peter's attempts to call Sydney for the first time. Peter is very straight-laced and could be described as uptight while Sydney lives on Venice Beach, has a man cave with 3 different TVs, and wears Uggs with board shorts. Ahh one of the most familiar romantic couple dynamics in movies: uptight guy meets free spirit gal, *see "Along Came Polly," "Two Weeks Notice," and "Garden State" to name a few. Of course, this case applies to two dudes which is where the term "bromantic comedy" comes from.
The movie's plot is very smart, but it's always the little things that the actors do and say in these movies that make them for me. Rudd carries a theme through the whole movie of his character just making up words when he gets nervous. Also, Rudd's physical humor is one of his greatest strengths, particularly when it comes to dancing. That dancing plus the line "slapping the bass" make for one of the biggest LOL-inducing moments in the movie. The pop culture references are also too much to handle. "Chocolat" and TV's Incredible Hulk in one movie? Are you kidding me?
After watching this movie, our first date if you will, I have to say that I like it so much that I would probably marry it. Unfortunately, people are closed-minded and human-film couples are still not considered equal under the law. And so I'll wait. I'll wait while listening to Rush and eating a summer salad. Totes Mcgotes.
