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I Love You, Man

Are You Man Enough To Say It? 

Year: 2009 
Running Time:
Aspect Ratio: Unknown 
Certificate: BBFC 15 Cert – Not suitable for under 15s 
Subtitles: This film is not expected to be subtitled, though this cannot be guaranteed. 
Directed by John Hamburg 
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones  
An image from I Love You, Man
Review:

Charming realtor Peter Klaven (Rudd) seals the deal when he proposes to girlfriend Zooey (Jones), much to the delight of her numerous gossiping gal pals. But Peter himself has no one to share the happy news with beyond his oddball family, prompting him to realise that he has never had any real male friends. With the wedding looming, Zooey encourages him to put himself out there and find a friend who could be his best man. After several entertainingly unsuccessful ‘man-dates’, Peter is about to give up but by chance meets laid-back investor Sydney Fife (Segel). The two hit it off, hanging out in Sydney’s garage and bonding over their shared passion for rock band Rush. But as he dedicates more time to his new friend, Peter has less for Zooey and their once-idyllic relationship falls into disrepair. Will the love triangle be able to reach a compromise, or will Peter be alone at the altar?

Although highly formulaic on paper, I Love You, Man is a refreshingly original entry into a crowded subgenre. The catalyst to the film’s success is surely the chemistry between the male leads, which bubbles so authentically that you could well be fooled into believing you were watching a pair of lifelong chums. Beyond the superb duo is a great supporting cast featuring entertaining turns from J. K. Simmons (Spider-Man’s grouchy newspaper editor), Lou Ferrigno lampooning his Incredible Hulk role, and Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg of recent internet viral fame.

When one looks at writer-director John Hamburg’s résumé (Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly), it becomes apparent just why this take on the classic buddy comedy works so well. Comparable to Rudd’s recent hit Role Models, this movie comfortably surpasses expectations of a mere cheap laugh to achieve an endearingly memorable entry in the ‘bromance’ catalogue.

Owen Rye

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Screenings of this film:

2009/2010 Autumn Term (35mm)