The term 'bromance' has become steadily more accepted in pop culture thanks to favored heterosexual mates for life like Joey and Chandler from Friends, Silent Bob and Jay from Kevin Smith movies, and then Judd Apatow's stream of buddy flicks. Bromance is about the love between two straight men who are extremely close to one another, almost to the point of parodying an actual romance. In April the newest bromance comedy was released starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, titled aptly I Love You, Man. Hilarious and full of heart, the film did very well in the theaters with a generally high review rate from critics. It is now out on DVD and Blu-ray, so it's time to cue your Rush music on your iPod and slappah de bass!
Peter (Rudd) is a sweet tempered real estate salesman in Los Angeles who proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). It is only when they start planning the wedding that she finds out Peter doesn't really have a best man planned … or even a few groomsmen. Peter has never been the type to have a lot of male friends; he's always been a girlfriend guy. After hearing Zooey's friends make fun of him for it, Peter decides to get out there and try to meet some friends, with a little help from his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg). After a series of bad friend-dates, Peter meets Sydney (Segel) when he is showing the house of at Lou Ferrigno, the original Hulk. Sydney and Peter hit it off right away, despite Peter's awkward geekiness and tendency to make up awful slang and nicknames.
His first real guy friendship is a little kooky since Sydney is quirky himself. He likes to talk about awkward things like sex, he doesn't pick up after his dog on the boardwalk and gets aggressive to anyone who yells at him, and he even asks to borrow a large sum of money from Peter. They bond over their shared love for Rush, but eventually the shine of their relationship starts to get tarnished and Peter wonders if Sydney really is the right best man for him. Are they meant to be bros for life, or is this just a passing fling?
The movie has a fantastic supporting cast, with Jaime Pressly and Jon Favreau playing a tumultuous couple and J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtin playing Peter's parents. The natural chemistry between Segel and Rudd must come from their long time friendship, and this isn't the first time we've seen them on screen together. Rudd played a small role as a stoned surfer in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a movie that Segel wrote and starred in. Rudd is not his usual character in this film, since he tends to play the 'cool' guy or even suave in other movies. Instead Peter is a dork of the highest degree, uncomfortable with other people and often using outdated slang or making impersonations that apparently all sound like a Leprechaun. Segel is also different in this movie, as he typically plays the outcast or geek (see Freaks and Geeks) rather than the cool guy. They both play their roles perfectly and bounce off one another well.
The DVD comes with several extras that will be great for fans of the film or the stars within it. There's a commentary track with director John Hamburg, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segel, which is sometimes a little dull but overall pretty amusing since they're all bros in real life too. There's a "Making Of" featurette, extended and deleted scenes, and a very long gag reel that shows how much fun shooting the film was for all the actors. There are a few features about the improvised lines and tom foolery behind the set that really was delightful to watch.
Overall, I Love You, Man is a charismatic and funny film. It is definitely rated R for language, and sexual content. The film can be a bit on the crude side, but it never moves too far away from a realistic portrayal of friendship and how openly people discuss things with those closest to them. If this means they swear or talk about sex a lot, well, I think that's something most good friends can relate to. If you like the Apatow-esque humor and enjoy either of the main actors, this will be a great laid back DVD to enjoy at home with your friends or loved ones. I Love You, Man is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.
ComicsOnline gives I Love You, Man 4 awkward man dates out of 5.
