I Love You, Man Film Review

1 hr 45 mins.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segal, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressley, Jon Favreau, J.K. Simmons, Andy Sanberg, Jane Curtain, Lou Ferrigno

Directed by: John Hamburg

MPAA Rating: R

Rating: ** ½ stars (out of 4 stars)

Writer-director John Hamburg's gross-out "bromance" comedy I Love You, Man has that Judd Apatow-esque outrageousness that never fails to satisfy the perverse funnybone. The satirical focus here is the male-bonding ritual in an unlikely buddy-buddy movie that speaks volumes about testosterone-driven friendships and the ridiculous ties that bind them together. Although I Love You, Man is grating on the nerves at times one must still appreciate Hamburg's persistence on the frequency of crudeness and convenient slapstick to convey the honest sentiment about "ordinary guys just being guys".

Aforementioned "Apatow" cohort Paul Rudd ("Role Models") plays real estate agent Peter Klaven, a dorky but sensitive soul that has never really connected with other men in terms of the typical male-oriented interests (you know...sports, beer-chugging, smoking cigars, checking out chicks, etc.). In fact, Klaven has spent his entire time around women and relating to them instead. It never occurred to poor Klaven that he does not have a real close male buddy that he can relate to on a manly, personal basis.

The fact that Klaven lacks male friendships becomes glaringly evident when he finally proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones formerly from TV's "The Office"). Zooey will have an abundance of female friends to show up for their special occasion. Unfortunately for Peter, he'll have nobody at his side to call his best man. Hence, Peter Klaven sets out to scout for that "special guy" to become his best buddy-in-the-making.

Thus, Klaven embarks on a series of "man dates" in order to campaign for that unique candidate that can make him feel complete in the "male pal" sweepstakes. Even Klaven's parents (J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtain) and gay younger brother ("Saturday Night Live's" Adam Sanberg) try to assist in Peter's quest for male compatibility. Nothing pans out for Klaven despite his best intentions to search for that "ideal guy" to hang out with exclusively. As luck would have it Klaven meets up with wacky private investor Sydney Fife (Jason Segal) as he is trying to sell the house of former "The Incredible Hulk" star and "The King of Queens" semi-regular Lou Ferrigno. Klaven finds Sydney's irreverence rather kind of refreshing. Also, the icing is on the cake when both men are particularly fond of the rock group Rush. So Klaven is all set as he has his newfound "bromate" Sydney (and his trusty dog Anwar Sadat) in tow.

Naturally, Sydney catches Klaven up on what he's missed out for so many years-late night sessions on just "chilling out" and hanging loose in Sydney's Venice beach pad without any worries in the world. Because of this newly formed relationship with the irresponsible and slacking Sydney Klaven is in jeopardy of losing Zooey since she feels totally "left out". As a result, the wedding may not occur at all if Klaven cannot find a clear median that satisfies his fellow Rush-loving freak Sydney to mesh with his exasperated wife-to-be Zooey. Peter Klaven may have to dodge some bullets (not to mention Anwar Sadat's plethora of poop on the sidewalk) if he is to maintain his off-kilter but therapeutic association with the wild man-child Sydney.

Clearly, I Love You, Man is skillfully off-beat and observant about its premise to ode stillborn adulthood. Thankfully, there's more meat on the bone here to chew on as opposed to some of this film's contemporary fare dealing with adolescent men trying to get their wayward groove on. Hamburg ("Meet the Fockers") and co-writer Larry Levin are on target with some of the nutty nuances of so-called "bromanship" that are sometimes hilariously insightful and sometimes aching with inevitable predictability. Granted that the raunchy quotient of recycled jokes ranging from masturbation to flatulence humor is an acquired taste but then again...THIS is about the male-bonding experience that entails some naughtiness at its desired discretion, right?

Both Rudd and Segal really click on-screen as the prudish-and-prankish pair that finds a common ground in the off-base shenanigans that liberate them in the name of foolish frivolity. The supporting cast is fine and pull off their noted participation with convincing gumption within these goofy-minded proceedings. Ferrigno's cameo as the resident muscle-bound icon whose last nerve is tested by Segal's infuriating Sydney is a genuine hoot-and-a-half.

Indeed, there is every reason to "man-up" in warped and witty I Love You, Man that plays like a screwy The Odd Couple in a millennium zoned-out state of arrested development.