Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
If comedy is an art, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel in “I Love You, Man” rank among Monet and Picasso. This film delivers laughs relentlessly, and while it’s not the most civilized production, it’s simultaneously clever and delightfully juvenile. Even in the opening credits, “I Love You, Man” reaches a level of hilarity that comedies of its kind work twice as hard to manage. It can easily take the title of best comedy so far this year.
The sheepishly charming Rudd plays Peter Klaven, an easygoing nice guy who proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones, an alum of “The Office”). As the starry-eyed young couple prepares for the wedding, Peter realizes he has no close male friends. As his brother Robbie (Andy Samberg) points out, Peter has always been a “girlfriend guy.” Desperate to fill out his side of the wedding party, Peter embarks on a search for a best man. Along this amusing adventure, he discovers the cool and brazen Sydney Fife, played expertly by Segel of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” fame. While the two click instantly, Zooey has her reservations about the new guy in her fiancee’s life. What follows can only be described as comedic genius.
Rudd shines as the painfully awkward but lovable Peter, and Segel brings to life the ridiculous slacker personified by Sydney. Beyond the stars, the supporting cast of “I Love You, Man” draws upon the talents of several members of today’s comedy A-team. J.K. Simmons, the sweet, defensive dad from “Juno,” reprises his parental role perfectly. Andy Samberg, best known for his infamous SNL skit with Justin Timberlake, plays an unconvincing yet entertaining gay personal trainer who dispenses well-meaning advice. Jaime Pressly of NBC’s “My Name Is Earl” is surprisingly funny and piercingly candid in her role as Zooey’s friend.
“I Love You, Man” is neither a romantic comedy nor a stereotypical guy movie. It patently refuses to be pigeonholed, and instead will make you laugh too hard to consider it. Bromance abounds, so be ready to either get in touch with your masculine side or simply laugh at the result of the masterful combination of two of comedy’s all-stars.
Although “I Love You, Man” is not the work of Judd Apatow (“Pineapple Express,” “The 40 Year Old Virgin”), it shares a similar feel. The jokes are quick and at times shocking, the characters are outrageous and relatable, and the laughs are endless. While there are similarities between this film and Apatow productions, “I Love You, Man” earns a spot at the top of the heap for its blithe excellence.
Grade: A
Bangor Daily News