Paul Rudd has trouble making friends, well sorta. When he gets engaged, discovers that he doesn’t have any close male friends for the wedding party, he starts doing “man dates” to find a suitable candidate for best man. Hilarity and bromance ensues.
Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a realtor who has just listed Lou Ferrigno’s mansion as his first big commission. He has big plans for the commission when he’s made the sale, but faces competition from fellow realtor Tevin Downey (Rob Huebel). He’s also proposed to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones).
Zooey and her best friends Denise (Jaime Pressly), who is married to Barry (Jon Favreau), and Hailey (Sarah Burns), perennially boyfriendless, are happily planning the wedding.
At dinner at Peter’s parents (J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtin) it’s revealed that Peter is more in tune with women and really doesn’t have any male best friends, like Zooey has Denise and Hailey. Peter is disturbed by this and wants to find male friends, especially one to be his best man.
He consults his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg) and he suggests that Peter take some men on “man dates” to find a suitable friend. They turn out disastrously, but during an open house at the Ferrigno mansion Peter meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel).
The two hit it off and begin seeing more of each other, but will this bromance end up scuttling Peter’s relationship and wedding?
I Love You, Man (which reminds me of that Chuck Heston Bud Light commercial in the 90s) is a twisted take on the usual romantic comedy. This time it’s not the girl and guy having to have a romance, it’s the two guys who end up getting together. Not in a romantic way mind you, not that there’s anything wrong with that to ape Seinfeld, but in more of a friendship.
That doesn’t stop the filmmakers from applying the same romantic movie tropes to Rudd and Segel’s friendship. It does take some time for it to get going though, but this gives time for some comedic bits for Rudd’s failed “dates.”
What the filmmakers have created is an odd duck indeed – a film that guys can take their dates to and both parties will find something to like. We have the comedy of the pairing of Rudd and Segel, yet we also have the relationship issues covered by the gals of the cast. It’s a wonderful combination of elements.
I Love You, Man is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1). Special features include a commentary with director John Hamburg, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segel. Special features are presented in high definition.
The 17-minute “The Making of I Love You, Man” is about the film’s production. Next are 22 minutes of “Extras” which are moments of improv from the film. There are also 12 minutes of extended scenes, 3 minutes of deleted scenes, an 11-minute gag reel, and the 2-minute red band trailer.
I Love You, Man doesn’t fail to entertain. What it might succeed at is entertaining all three sexes. The combination of Rudd and Segel is great and there are some genuinely funny moments as well as something to say about relationships of all kinds.
I Love You, Man [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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