Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones

A successful real estate agent, who upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey, discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Pete...( read more  read more... )r immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward "man-dates," before meeting Sydney Fife, 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 fiancee and his new found "bro," in a story that comically explores what it truly means to be a friend.

Flixster Users

72% liked it

262,868 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

180 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Ivan Reitman, John Hamburg

Release Date: March 20, 2009

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DVD Release Date: August 11, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (26,137)


  • October 9, 2009
    "I need to get some fucking friends."


    Over recent years, it would seem, the mainstream comedy genre has become a breeding ground for male arrested development. With American comedy embracing unadorned masculinity - in all its slovenly, sexist, drunken and often childis

    ...( read more)h glory - with such gusto, it's a surprise that I Love You, Man is perhaps the first modern comedy that actually attempts to explore male bonding. For 100 minutes, this film tracks the protagonists as they sing Rush songs, hang out and give each other silly nicknames, while a shoestring plot lingers in the corner which is occasionally picked up when the rote structure calls for it. There are some amusing moments within I Love You, Man, but it's mostly forgettable, not to mention so formulaic that a viewer will be able to figure out what's coming next even before the film's midpoint.


    The story concerns straight-laced realtor Peter Klaven (Rudd) who, at the beginning of the movie, becomes engaged to his girlfriend Zooey (Jones). All seems fine until Zooey starts calling her best friends to tell them the great news, and it soon becomes obvious that Peter has no people to call apart from his parents. Pressed by his fiancée and family, Peter embarks on a series of "man dates" in an attempt to widen his social circle. Following a number of disastrous meetings with various flakes, Peter happens upon Sydney Fife; a part-time investment councillor and a full-time slacker. Sydney opens Peter's eyes to the world of a male best friend, offering advice on romance and a discussion outlet in the form of his self-described "man cave" (a primordial shrine to narcissistic masculinity filled with TVs, instruments, comfy chairs, and even a masturbation station). But as the two grow to be inseparable, Zooey grows concerned, especially when Sydney's influence causes Peter to question his upcoming nuptials.


    The semi-love affairs between straight, immature men is the topic the film tackles, and it's fleshed out using standard Judd Apatow-style ingredients: cheerful vulgarity, good-natured charm, sexually explicit & profanity-ridden dialogue, as well as off-the-wall pop culture references. Although Judd Apatow has absolutely nothing to do with I Love You, Man, one could be forgiven for thinking he was behind it. Not only does this film contain a lot of trademark Apatow elements, it also stars two Apatow alumni (Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom appeared in 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall).


    Director John Hamburg (who shares a screenwriting credit with Larry Levin) is fairly sly in his construction of Peter and Sydney's story. I Love You, Man cleverly repurposes the standard scenes and conflicts of modern romantic comedies, from the cute meetings to the "getting to know you" montage to the third party which may break them up (in this case, Zooey). However the movie also adheres to the well-worn tenets of the romantic comedy genre, right down to the temporarily break up and last-minute reconciliation. With the characters warmly established and an enjoyable, fluid tone bubbling wonderfully, it's borderline criminal to halt the merriment in order to wander into a formulaic rom-com bear trap. I Love You, Man is flawed in other ways; Peter's awkward verbal blunders grow tiresome, and the unfunny character Lonnie (Truglio) shows up a few too many times.


    To their credit, Hamburg and Levin have created a script which manages to avoid some of the more rough-edged clichés of the genre - Jane Curtin plays Peter's mother like a regular parent instead of some over-the-top shrew, and the homosexuality of Peter's brother not reduced to swishing stereotypes. While the movie isn't exactly the side-splitting laugh riot it probably could have been in more adept hands, there are a lot of amusing details and hysterical one-liners (Sydney's observations about male behaviour are quite amusing). Hamburg's direction isn't terribly innovative, but why would one want a director intruding on a character comedy with indulgent camerawork?


    Paul Rudd may be in danger of getting typecast as the goofy boyfriend type, but he's turned this sort of role into an art form. Rudd's allure is one of the film's greatest weapons; the wedding proposal that opens the film is winning and sweet, and gets us on his side from the outset. On the other side of the spectrum is Jason Segel who's also known for a certain character (the laid-back, earnest imbecile). For the film, he essentially just plays off Rudd's straight man. Segel's matter-of-fact delivery and likability makes him a great partner for Rudd. The genuine friendship between Segel and Rudd is clear in every scene, and obvious improvisation adds an additional level to their friendship. But one also gets the feeling that they're both better than this material; nothing in the movie can hold up against their brief scenes together in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
    Luckily, the two leads are surrounded by a full staff of comedy players. Jon Favreau is a particular highlight, whose scenes with Jaime Pressly are downright hysterical. Rashida Jones is beyond charming as Zooey, and it's clear why Peter would be so smitten with her. Also in the cast there's J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin and Thomas Lennon (who's especially funny), to name a few.


    Despite a clever premise and several laugh-aloud moments, I Love You, Man slightly underwhelms due to a story that sags a bit from overfamiliarity. Still, the accurate portrayal of male bonding and the healthy dosage of comedy makes this "bromance" worth a watch.

  • October 4, 2009
    could have done withought the retarted man-speak/language...didnt really make sense or add to the movie.
  • October 2, 2009
    FUNNY!

    I need to rewatch it though. Watched it with one of my friends and I'm pretty sure I missed stuff. But it was pretty great.
  • September 12, 2009
    Good stuff, the whole concept was good, this is actually a comedy that made me laugh, thumbs up
  • September 9, 2009
    It was pretty hilarious at times, but mostly cute. A little bit predictable, but enjoyable regardless.
  • November 6, 2009
    ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME I GOT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!
    Paul Rudd Is Funny As Hell As Peter Klaven, A Man With No Male Friends, Until He Meets Sydney Fife. Jason Segal Steals The Show (As He So Often Does) As Sydney Who Lives Life To Its Fullest. Rashida Jones (Who Im Not Really Fond O...( read more)f) Does Well As Peters Fiance. Not Gross Out Funny Like Many Other Films But This Is Comedy At Its Best. The Man Cave & The Wedding Band "Tastes Like Chicken" Are What Im Still Laughing At To This Day!!!!!
  • November 6, 2009
    Prima di vederlo non avevo capito una cippa e mi aspettavo una love story tra Jason Segel e Paul Rudd, peccato u_u
    Carinissssimo comunque <3
  • November 5, 2009
    Nothing new here, typical romantic comedy with a few smart observations and dialogue thrown in. Similar formula to the Heartbreak Kid, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Wedding Crashers etc and in the end everything turns out all right (yawn). Worthy of 3 stars though.
  • November 5, 2009
    so funny, i swear i almost pissed myself laughing!!
  • November 4, 2009
    Quite a funny tale and an interesting look at friendship. I just love any movie Paul Rudd's in.

Critic Reviews


March 20, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The marvelous thing about John Hamburg's new comedy, I Love You, Man, is that rather than conforming to fit into some preexisting trend, it recognizes and even exalts in the reality that close male fr... full review

March 20, 2009
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

Chillax with a laugh-out-loud marathon that's even better than 'The Wedding Crashers'. full review

March 20, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

In almost every major detail and minor plot hiccup, the sweet, vulgar, hilariously awkward I Love You, Man follows Ye Olde Formulae for standard romantic comedies. full review

March 20, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The comedy I Love You, Man marks the overdue emergence of Paul Rudd as a star. full review

March 19, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

I Love You, Man's light-hearted exploration of male bonding provides substantial fodder for humor, heightened by the inspired casting of two of the industry's most appealing comic actors. full review

March 19, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In a down market for giggles (Miss March? Please!), Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are howlingly funny. They have skills. full review

March 19, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It never settles into a comfortable comic groove, but maybe discomfort is the point. full review

March 19, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's funny with some dumb physical humor, yes, and some gross-out jokes apparently necessary to all buddy movies, but also funny in observations, dialogue, physical behavior and Sydney Fife's observat... full review

March 18, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

From its snarky title on down, everything about I Love You, Man ignores the complexities of male identity. full review

March 16, 2009
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

I Love You, Man is totally formulaic, but the formula is unnervingly (and hilariously) inside out. full review

View more I Love You, Man reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • ksbl
    March 29, 2009
    I <3 Jason Segel. That is all.

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I Love You, Man Trivia


  • She stars in "Big Fat Liar", "Love Wrecked","Shes' the Man", and had a t.v series "What I Like About You", who is she?  Answer »
  • my sister cant go out unless i go out. I love a man, but i also HATE him HINT:i can list them all  Answer »
  • What movie is this quote from: "I think you still love the man. In my vanity, I thought I could make you love me and one can not do that or should not. "  Answer »
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