April 2009
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I Love You, Man (15)
Printed 15th April 2009

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, adult-rated geek-chic raunchy comedies (definition: swearing, sex gags, freak or geek lead and closing stages sentimentality) are big business and in the mainstream moviegoers consciousness right now.

Judd Apatow’s the acknowledged grand poobah of the movement (The 40-Year-Old Virgin/Knocked Up), but Seth Rogen (Superbad/Pineapple Express) and Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) have also done their bit to put the raunch-com at the top of the comedy tree.

You can now add another name to this esteemed uber-geek clique list, one Paul “never-not-funny” Rudd after a one-two leading man comedic knockout punch in early ‘09 with January laff-riot Role Models and this week’s thigh-slappingly funny I Love You, Man.

Rudd stars as Peter Klaven, a real estate agent and “girl’s guy” devoid of any real close male friends. Which proves a real problem after he proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones, making a Katherine Heigl-alike impact in what could have been a thankless role if not for her innate talents) and realises he has no-one to act as his best man on the impending wedding day? Secretly embarking on a series of man-dates to rectify the situation, Peter’s mano e mano experiences range from awkward to downright bizarre. Then he meets Sydney Fife (fellow cliquer Segel). Confident, charming and opinionated, Sydney is everything Peter wants to be and they form an instant bro-nd. Of course the more “sweet, sweet hangin’” time they spend together, the more Peter grows away from Zooey. Can he coalesce his two relationships together in time for the big day?

A crude, rude but sweet-centred bromance, I Love You, Man is predictably dry your eyes funny but with a feel-good streak running throughout its all too short 100-odd minute runtime. Written and directed by the talented John Hamburg (Meet the Parents/Fockers, Zoolander and Along Came Polly, so he’s on Ben Stiller’s speed dial then...), his script is smart, savvy and insightful, with something to say about the nature of relationships as well as supplying the requisite belly laughs that this genre demands (which is very Apatow by the by). This is sure to be his calling card to other geek clique gigs, in a large part because he lets others steal the show by using his funny screenplay as a template to improvise around rather than a dialogue bible.

Of course the most notable script abusers and beneficiaries are the two cut-loose leading lovers, Rudd and Segel. Rudd is sensational as Peter, fluffing his attempted cool quips every endeavoured time with ever increasingly hilarity. Segel meanwhile builds on his burgeoning superstar status (Seth Rogen, watch out) as the mysterious-but-infectious Sydney, leaving viewers in no doubt as to why Peter is drawn to his exuding charm and carefree lifestyle. Then there’s their chemistry together, these two surely born to play off of one another in much the same way Simon Pegg and Nick Frost also were. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a beautiful on-screen relationship, because just watching these two sitting around bullshitting is more entertaining than most other action-packed or densely-scripted feature films in their entirety.

The clique boys thunder is almost stolen from right under their not-inconsiderable comedic feet however by a characteristically quality, cameoing writer-director-actor extraordinaire Jon Favreau and best thing about My Name is Earl Jaime Pressly as a feuding couple living in anything but married bliss. Constantly fighting in order to make up and f... well you get the picture, their marriage is disturbing to say the least but hilarious to witness from the outside.

As if this wasn’t enough it doesn’t even take into account the comedy stylings of J.K. Simmons (Juno & J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-man’s 1-3), SNL’s Andy Samberg, Thomas Lennon (Balls of Fury, but don’t hold that against him) and the game for anything Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), each one downright hysterical here. It’s a veritable vérité of top comedy performers and a feast of funny for all those on the geek-chic raunchy comedy train to indulge upon once again. More please!

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