You can't help but fall for 'I Love You, Man'

Rating: 8/10 (29 March 2009)

In a time filled with dark and cynical comedies, 'I Love You, Man' is a pleasant and satisfying breath of fresh air. It is one of those few romantic comedies nowadays with an equal balance of humor and sweetness. The sincerity of the actors and dialogue, which is witty, sometimes hilarious but never over-the-top or cheesy, gives this movie an undeniable appeal that is absent from so many of the comedies churned out by Hollywood.
Part of that appeal comes from the lead actor. Of course, I'm talking about the always lovable Paul Rudd. He makes the audience really cheer for his character and turns what could have been a one-dimensional stereotype into someone that feels genuine and real. With excellent comic timing, he gives Peter Claven a sort of almost puppy-dog innocence and an every-guy feel. Despite his obvious social awkwardness, he is the guy that you'd want to have a beer with or just hang out with after work. Paul Rudd delivers his lines so well, with such naturalness, that I wondered how much of it was actually scripted and how much had been improvised or reflected his real personality.
It also helps that he has great chemistry with Jason Segal and Rashida Jones. As a carefree yet somewhat lazy investor, Jason Segal makes his character fun to watch and it's no surprise that he and Paul Rudd really do seem like the perfect friends. Paul Rudd's chemistry with Rashida Jones helps make the few lines that could have sounded sappy or cheesy seem totally natural. Unlike in many rom-coms, you actually want their relationship to work out. This is also the result of the script, which fleshed out Zooey (Rashida Jones's character) as much as it fleshed out any of the male characters. She does not feel at all clichéd.
I must also mention the rest of the terrific supporting cast, which includes J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg, Jon Favreau and Jamie Pressly, among others. Though none of them got nearly as much screen time as the three main actors, they all had their moments and did a great job with their characters, which were quirky but believable.
Like any good comedy, I Love You, Man had a script that had both laughs and heart. Though it was not 'rolling-in-the-aisle' funny, there were definitely plenty of laugh-out loud moments to keep the audience's attention. But what is perhaps even more special, the story is genuinely touching. The relationships between the characters are well-developed, especially the friendship between Peter and Sydney. The message about being honest and being yourself is well-delivered and never comes off as preachy. At the end, it leaves you feeling warm and optimistic, like any good comedy should.