Movie Review: I Love You, Man (2009)


As much as I like to eat my Count Chocula cereal in the morning, I don’t want to eat it every morning — I need some variety. Same goes for my comedies. As much as I like Paul Rudd, I don’t want to see him in every joke-filled movie I see either. Especially when he is used incorrectly, which, unfortunately, is the case in I Love You, Man.

Of course the intentions were good. Need a nondescript, straight guy? Rudd can certainly fill the part. He can’t, however, carry a film and that is exactly what was expected of him in this latest buddy comedy.

You see, he plays real estate agent, Peter Klaven, a man who has always found he could befriend girls more easily than guys. Not exactly a big problem until he proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). It suddenly becomes apparent that he has no guy friends — no one to confide in or to be his best man. After hearing Zooey’s friends poke fun at his situation during a girls only night out, he decides to put forth some effort into finding Mr. Right.

Stupid and generally unfunny setups occur for the next thirty minutes or so — he meets some elderly gentleman when he tries his luck with an online dating service. His gay, younger brother Robbie (Andy Samberg) introduces him to an over excitable soccer fan. His mom (Jane Curtin) sets him up with a Los Angelos transplant with a very different dating expectation. The harder Peter looks and the more help he seeks the worse off he is. That is until he meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) at an open house at Lou Ferrigno’s mansion.

Sydney introduces the finer man-things in life to Peter that culminate with varying levels of laughter — the masturbation chair (funny), “Slammin’ da Bass” (overused and not so funny). Jason Segal, however, does manage to make I Love You, Man at least slightly entertaining. His toast at Peter’s wedding rehearsal is one most married men, behind closed doors, wish was given at their dry run or reception. Perhaps best of all is just the fact he is a big, goofy oddball who really takes on the persona of a too laid back man-child.

The rest of the cast is mostly unremarkable. Rashida Jones, looks great, but comes across like a wet blanket — 3/4 of the way through the film, I wished Peter would just dump her. J.K. Simmons seems content being typecast as a quirky dad (Juno), only this time around he isn’t nearly as quirky or reverent. Only Jon Favreau, as Zooey’s best friend Denise’s (Jaime Pressley) husband, provides some laughs as a complete disinterested tool who takes being a man’s man to a dizzying new level.

Mostly, the movie looked like writer/director John Hamburg was fumbling around in the dark on how to make fun of the whole “bromance” fad going on in America. That trend isn’t funny (it’s actually quite annoying) and aside from a handful of scenes, neither is I Love You, Man.

Critical Movie Critic Rating:
2 Star Rating: Bad

2

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The Critical Movie Critics

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.


'Movie Review: I Love You, Man (2009)' have 6 comments

  1. The Critical Movie Critics

    April 17, 2009 @ 7:07 am Baby dresses

    Hey there,

    I’ve only seen the trailer for this one but from that it looks well dodgy!

    Especially when it markets itself as the best ‘buddy’ movie in ages. I struggle to think of the last ‘buddy’ movie I’ve seen ever. Perhaps I’m wrong tho.

    Needless to say, if I watch this at all, it’ll be on dvd. I’m not going to the cinema for this.

  2. The Critical Movie Critics

    March 19, 2010 @ 10:16 pm Soren

    I totally agree with you i will not spend time and money for go to the cinema to see this movie.

    We have seen something like this before and we will see this again.

    Okay i don’t telling the movie not are good but not my taste i think.

  3. The Critical Movie Critics

    March 25, 2010 @ 7:21 am Charlotte

    I disagree with Soren said about that movie. That movie was nice and I love watching it over and over again. I never get bored while watching it. The cast was all good and do their job well.

  4. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 1, 2010 @ 8:43 pm Richmond

    This is a funny movie that guys can relate to.

  5. The Critical Movie Critics

    November 2, 2011 @ 7:09 pm James M. Pendelton

    I’ve already watched that movie online, the movie is not quite good, I’ve been expected too much from the movie. Some part are not that realistic as what I’ve expected..

  6. The Critical Movie Critics

    December 9, 2011 @ 11:18 am Steve

    I really liked that movie. I remember watching a long time ago with my friends. Not bad at all!

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