January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
DVD Review: I Love You Man ***
***
Stars: Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones, Jason Segel
Director: John Hamburg
Rated: R
Runtime: 105 minutes
Comedy/romance
Choosing between your bride and your buddy is the agonizing dilemma faced by likeable Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) in this watchable comedy.
After getting engaged to his dream girl, Zooey (Rashida Jones), Peter realizes that he doesn't have a male friend he is close enough to who can serve as Best Man.
He embarks on a series of bizarre "man dates" to find a best buddy - and encounters an oddball mix of losers, loners and lovestruck gay men.
Then he meets straight-talking, boho beach bum Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) and they bond immediately.
But the closer the guys get, the more Peter's relationship with Zooey suffers and he is forced to choose between his friend and his fiancée.
What makes I Love You Man stand out from other bride vs buddy 'love triangle' tales is the exceptional performances.
Rudd has spent too long as a support act and finally takes the lead.
The comic timing evident in his roles as Mike in Friends and Pete in Knocked Up is spot on and he is not afraid to look embarrassingly uncool.
His character is neurotic and pretentious but he plays him with such an endearing awkwardness that you can't help but like him.
Segel also wins you over as brash man-boy Sydney. Like Peter Pan, he refuses to grow up and behaves more like an adolescent.
Overall, the movie is a hugely watchable and enjoyable romp about male bonding and the difficulties of making friends as you get older that doesn't rely on being overly crude or cruel to get cheap laughs.
Watch if you liked: You, Me And Dupree.[[In-content Ad]]
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