American audiences have consumed sample-size portions of Paul Rudd for at least a decade.
Whether he's portraying the witty best friend onscreen who emits an infectious chumminess or the nice guy the girl should end up with, the actor has affability down to a tee. His upwardly mobile ascent in recent comedy films has square-pegged him as one of the guys. And he was molding a persona out of someone not unlike himself.
In the bromantic comedy I Love You, Man, for the first time, a lot of Paul Rudd is too much. The film is very funny, boasting creative casting and relatable humor, but Rudd's new lead status is questionably effective here.
Peter Klaven (Rudd), a California real estate agent, proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) and then realizes he has no male friends. He goes on the hunt for a best man for his wedding, likely the most colossal of wedding preparation obstacles. This initially results in a series of failed attempts and miscommunications on various man dates. His homosexual younger brother (Andy Samberg) instructs him on the rules of such a heterosexual endeavor.
Then, Peter meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) at an open house for former Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno's home. This results in a few seven-hour man dates, incorporating "bass-slapping" jam sessions, strolls on the boardwalk and idolatry of the band Rush.
Segel is on pitch as Sydney, the man-child free spirit who bonds with Peter. He encompasses a Bohemian, sophomoric preppiness and an inability to stifle his irreverent thoughts. Sydney enlightens Klaven about male slackerdom, introducing him to his basement-level "man cave" where women are not allowed.
The soundtrack that features at least a couple songs from Vampire Weekend complements both Sydney's crass behavior and the breezy Venice Beach setting.
Luckily, the film never takes itself too seriously. The conflicts between the principle characters could be stronger and the stakes higher, but it would only lessen the funny.
Jon Favreau conquers each of his lines in a cameo as Zooey's friend's bickering snob of a husband.
Segel and Rudd reunited from their last outing together in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so their chemistry is smooth even if the characters are incompatible on paper.
Rudd's nervy introvert becomes too eager to please, severely mishandling masculine banter and inventing words like 'Jobin' to act hip in front of Sydney. The audience's surprise stemmed from incipiently seeing Rudd without friends is removed upon discovery of his character's obnoxious side.
Co-writer/director John Hamburg has written material for Ben Stiller for years for Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, Zoolander, et.al. Therefore, at times, Rudd feels miscast.
Hamburg likes to squeeze the funny out of the awkward habits inherent in social interaction. Does that mean making Rudd read nonsensical nicknames and colloquialisms? These are the script's lamest jokes and they reverberate unavoidably, tainting an otherwise amusing comedy with a sharp concept.
I Love You, Man offers a sincere, fresh take on this platonic union between dudes embracing man-child syndrome with open arms.
Grade:
B-
