I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man

Sometimes you see a movie and when it ends you just think, "what a pity." Not because it is a bad film, but because it could have been so much better. I Love You, Man is one of those movies. The film had a great concept and a superb comic cast. It should have been a winner. Instead when the movie ended, you just shrug your shoulders and...well, that's it. You may never think of this movie ever again.

Paul Rudd plays Peter - real estate agent, hopeless romantic, and perfect boyfriend. And now that he is getting married to Zooey (Rashida Jones), he realizes he has a bit of a problem. He has always had female friends and girlfriends, but never any guy friends. In search of groomsmen for his wedding, Peter sets about trying to find a guy friend and ends up meeting free spirit Sydney (Jason Segal). The movie is structured exactly like the cliche romantic comedy, with all the same beats and story points (flirting, first dates, happy montage, big fight, sad montage, reunion). I am not mentioning the cliches as a criticism. On the contrary, using this well worn structure for a budding friendship instead of a love story is remarkably clever. Like I said, the movie has a great concept.

The film certainly has its funny moments. But they are way too few. There are just stretches of the movie where you are waiting for something interesting to happen. You'll get something about every 15 minutes. That said, when you do get a funny moment, it is terrific - such as Peter's trip to the gym with his gay brother (Andy Samburg), a poker game with the perpetually angry Barry (Jon Favreau), the bro-dates with architect Doug (Thomas Lennon) and 87-year old Mel (Murray Gershenz), the climactic wedding scene, and of course almost every scene with Lou Ferrigno. But there are many more moments that are forced and just don't work - such as Sydney teaching Peter how to scream (because that's what men do?) and the running gag of Peter trying to come up with hip lingo and slang. It is never funny, and simply awkward. I also think the marvelous J.K. Simmons, the terrific character actor playing Peter's dad, is just wasted.

Segal and Rudd are both reliable, as always. I appreciate that Segal is playing a character far removed from the over-sensitive men he normally plays. He's too talented that it would suck if he becomes typecast. I just wish these guys were in a better movie. I Love You, Man should have been that movie. It's a pity that it's not.

TRIVIA: The movie's original title was Bro-mance which I actually like a lot more. Definitely more appropriate!

MVP: Actually, I'm going to go with Jon Favreau as Barry, the husband of one of Zooey's friends. He is a total tool. He's always angry, complaining, and just a complete ass. But he has a sure sense of his character, and he makes the most of his scenes. We are never just waiting for something to happen, because he's enough of a jerk that he forces things to happen in his scenes. He is never boring and most of his line-readings will leave you smiling. That's an MVP in my book.

BEST LINE: Peter: He farted in my open house!