Sidewalks On The Corner

Paul Rudd has found the perfect woman, but he's having trouble finding the perfect man…best man that is. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel become the perfect couple, in their new buddy film, “I Love You, Man.”

Follow up:

I LOVE YOU, MAN
Paramount Pictures
Opening Date: Friday, March 20th
MPAA Rating: R-for pervasive language, including crude and sexual references
Run Time: 105 minutes
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly

Studio Synopsis
In “I Love You, Man,” a comedy from John Hamburg (“Along Came Polly,” co-writer of “Meet the Parents,” “Meet the Fockers,” “Zoolander”), Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, “Knocked Up” “The 40 Year Old Virgin”) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (“The Office’s” Rashida Jones), discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward “man-dates,” before meeting Sydney Fife (Jason Segel, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But the closer the two men get, the more Peter’s relationship with Zooey suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between his fiancée and his newfound “bro,” in a story that comically explores what it truly means to be a “friend.”

JP's TAKE

What I Liked: I liked the fact that this film is funny all the way through. At every turn in the story something funny happens…and it happens naturally. I didn't feel like they were putting on a show just because with contrived and tacked on comedy bits. What makes the film so funny is how honest and open the characters are about everything. Some key funny moments are those with Sydney Fife (Segel) and Peter Klaven (Rudd) as they strike up a relationship. They like each other so much that go out on man dates and talk about their sex lives openly. Scenes where Peter can't resist calling Sydney, who he previously met at open house, to see if he wants go out on a man-date are especially funny. Peter wants to get know Sydney and it's almost like he was asking a girl out for the first time. The thing is he can't quite find the words to say to him without sounding gay or desperate. Other funny moments include the open house for Lou Ferrigno’s (yes, TV’s Incredible Hulk) place and the toast Sydney made at Peter and Zooey's engagement party. There are plenty more funny parts and the barrel of laugh just keeps coming after that.

What I Didn't Like: As far as what I didn't like, there wasn't if at all. If fact the only thing that was a little annoying were scenes with Sydney and Peter that seemed a little mushy and sappy. However, they weren't so overtly sweet that I wanted to barf.

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, left) befriends Sydney Fife (Jason Segel, right) in his search for a best man for his upcoming wedding in the comedy “I Love You, Man.” Photo Credit: Scott Garfield

I was surprised about Segel, who is a regular on How I Met Your Mother and last year’s hit, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He was both a genuine friend and a philosopher of all things male all rolled into one. He really felt like he could be your best buddy.

Rudd (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) plays the perfect dork: he's smart and is a high achieve, but humble and low keyed. I liked the interaction between he and Segal, because they were night and day. After a few nights out with his new found friend, he began to loosen up. Though the part is not a difficult one for Rudd's talent, he felt very natural in Peter's shoes.

Rashida Jones plays Zooey, Peter's fiance. Jones fits the part of his true-love Zooey; I felt she's supportive and nurturing. Although her character can be a little cutesy at time, I wanted to see her smack Peter around just a little bit to bring him to his senses. Over all, I think she is the right actress for the part.

As for the supporting cast, everyone fit together like hand and glove. Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Jane Curtin, J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg, and omni present Thomas Lennon fill out the rest of the cast and all did a hilarious job of support the main characters.

I have to admit I thought “I Love You, Man” would be a dumpy, cheesy movie, but it turned out to be a hilarious comedy about a bro-mance. Rudd and Segel seem like the perfect pair on the big screen and their friendship off screen must just as cool. It's one of few comedies I've seen in a while that had me laughing non-stop. You've heard of chick flicks, well, this is a film I think both men and women can enjoy despite the masculine themes. I laughed pretty hard.