I Love You Man

I think it can be easily said that, throughout the years of cinema, the genre of “bromance” hasn’t truly been given its even shake. In fact, while the bond found between women has been explored in everything from “Steel Magnolias” to “Thelma and Louise,” the friendship of men is usually placed into three specific categories- crime, sports, or military. Usually the male characters make a connection when pulling off an impossible heist (Ocean’s Eleven), taking down an evil crime lord (Bad Boys), winning the “big game,” (Remember the Titans) or making it passed enemy lines (Saving Private Ryan).

Then there’s “I Love You Man.” Defying all the male bonding stereotypes, John Hamburg’s latest film is another addition to the rated-R “Apatowian” comedy genre, which I’ve begun to label “honest comedies.” Like what “Knocked Up” did for modern parenting and “Superbad” for the coming-of-age tale, “I Love You Man” gives a transparent depiction of what it’s like when middle-aged men try to make friends.

The story revolves around Peter Klaven, a successful real estate agent who, after asking his girlfriend Zooey (The Offices Rashida Jones) to marry him, painfully realizes his lack of male companionship. With only a few months before the wedding, Peter must begin the search for a real “guy-friend” to serve as best man at his wedding. After several awkward “man-dates,” Peter finally meets Sydney Fife (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s Jason Segel), a guitar playing, shorts wearing, bohemian who spends his time walking his dog, listening to Rush, and crashing fancy real estate open houses, which, oddly enough, is how our two everymen meet. From this point on, the testosterone filled twosome are inseparable and Peter’s frequent escapades begin getting in the way of quality time with his fiancée. Before you can say “wedding day jitters,” Peter must make a choice between the love of his life and his newfound friend before he loses both in the process.

First and foremost, this film might be the epitome of “it’s funny because it’s true,” humor. I found myself chuckling not because the characters or situations tried to be funny but because they naturally were. As a man I could identify with the struggle of fostering a good one-on-one male relationship and as I person I could understand the trouble of balancing time between friends and loved ones. But the heart of this film can be found in its actors. With the likes of Rudd and Segel manning (no pun indented) the helm and people like Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, and, the Incredible Hulk himself Lou Ferrigno playing the supporting cast, you know you’re in for both a good time and an honest performance.

“I Love You Man” may have issues with plot originality and a slight overabundance of product placement, but all in all, it depicts normal life and brotherly love as it honestly should be—awkward, bizarre, and rather funny.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars