Apatow Would Be Proud

Rating: 8/10 (21 March 2009)

I LOVE YOU MAN is a bromantic comedy that's funny, outrageous and just statin' the truth. It underlines the fears guys have about commitment whether it's to opposite sex or usual friends. It's a refreshing comedy that in a way makes fun of your typical chick flick out there. It has that montage, same awkwardness that comes with dating or making that phone call but instead of a guy and a chick.. it's a guy and a guy. Jason Segel and Paul Rudd are this year's Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
I LOVE YOU, MAN is not an Apatow-produced movie but I'm sure he'd be very proud because not only does it feature two guys who've graduated Apatow school of comedy but the humor itself is meant for those of us who love Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall where R-rated comedy can have great storyline.
Writer/director John Hamburg and fellow screenwriter Larry Levin clearly understands some of the rules and concepts that are being played out there in the game of relationships. Rules that in the end don't mean a thing unless honesty gets first place. And that's where the hilarity of this movie comes into play. It's refreshing and enlightening at the same time, it won't leave you in awe but you'll understand where the story is going.
Granted, this is not a complete laugh-out-loud experience but you won't get bored, not even for a minute and just like any other well- structured story, this one also has those components where you see one aspect at the beginning that you'll know would just come up again one way or another nearing the end. It's somewhat predictable, yes but nothing that would make you wanna leave the cinema in embarrassment. I think the top thing that would make this movie memorable years from now is the many weird catchphrases that Paul Rudd's character makes up to end his sentences so that he could sound all cool. He'd be saying greetings or farewells and them awkwardly because the word he chooses to say them are just plain confusing.. and that's funny. Jason Segel plays one of those unlikely best friends who'd just wanna have fun and doesn't wanna be tied down with too much responsibilities and has a certain way of helping his friends out. Segel plays his character with coolness that's not over the top, he's the kind of guy that you'd hang out with because no matter how much of a party boy he'll become, he'll never get too annoying. Rashida Jones is just OK as the girlfriend, I wouldn't mind if it was some other actress in her place. The Jon Favreau-Jaime Pressley couple however is a riot. Overall, I LOVE YOU, MAN is an enjoyable comedy that may not be everyone but everyone would agree with the concept sooner or later.