MOVIE REVIEW - I Love You, Man

It's Springtime and time for out first big comedy of the season, and here comes I Love You, Man. This one stars Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones.

It's the off-beat story of Peter (Rudd) who is newly engaged to Zooey (Jones) and the moments leading up to the wedding that are anything but normal. Peter is a very conservative real estate agent in California and is a bit on the soft side. He has never had any real male friends, and this is brought to his attention by his bride to be, Zooey at a girls night out engagement party. Peter takes it to heart and sets out to find his new "friend" to be his best man at their wedding.

Peter meets Sydney (Segel) who is this very strange, never going to grow up 30 ish "dude" who claims to be an investment broker. But Sydney certainly doesn't live the stereotypical IB lifestyle. He and Peter hit it off, as opposites often do attract, and the follies are on.

ILYM is a formula movie that for some reason has really stood the test of time with us. From Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot, to Neil Simon's' The Odd Couple, to John Hughes' Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The prim and proper on one side, and the outrageous opposite on the other side. We have been laughing at this for decades, and we still are. ILYM, despite some shortcomings, follows the exact recipe and does bring you some good laughs.

There is a stretch at the beginning that ILYM seems to wants to veer off into the sophomoric humor ditch, and does for a time. But it seems to get over the locker room humor and grows a heart and a bit of a soul, then turns the corner and becomes a different movie. The story here is overall pretty good. Rudd is always a good time, and he is here as the understated Peter. Segel is who he is. I'm not a huge fan overall, but this may be his best performance to date, as his character is a little better defined, and doesn't rely solely on the bathroom stuff to get us laughing.

Big kudos too for Rashida Jones, who is Peters fiance, Zooey. She is a real breath of fresh air on the screen. Perfectly cast, she is engaging, real, and looks exactly like the kind of woman Peter would be marrying. Nice chemistry between them too. The decision to cast her, was the movies best decision. A nice supporting cast as well, Jane Curtin, J.K. Simmons, Lou Ferrigno, and especially Jamie Presley in a VERY funny small role as one of Zooey's best friends.

I Love You, Man. It's got problems, but in the end it does deliver what it says it will, laughs. Some you will appreciate some you may not. But if you're willing to wade through a bit of mud, you will end up on dry land in the end. Might want to leave Nana at home, but still not a bad night at the movies.