Something about 'I Love You, Man'
Rudd shows acting chops in memorable romantic comedy
Scott Hansen
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Scene
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood let Paul Rudd take on the lead role of a comedy movie.
Steve Carell had his chance. Seth Rogen had his chance. Jason Segel had his chance. Pretty much everyone that worked with Judd Apatow was given their chance to star in a movie except for Rudd, who for some odd reason had to wait the longest out of all the previous names while having more credentials and acting experience. But much like those previously named, he delivers a comedy that is actually funny and at the center of it all has a ton of heart to admire and enjoy in "I Love You Man."
Rudd plays Peter, a hardcore metrosexual who recently discovered through his proposal to his fiancé that he has no real close male friends. Now in a change-filled world this wouldn't be a big deal, and just having no best man would be something different. But Peter's fiancé Zooey, played by the beautiful Rashida Jones, begins to think it may not be a good idea to marry someone so dependent upon someone from the opposite sex. Thus, Rudd sets out to find someone to be his best man, eventually stumbling upon perhaps Jason Segel's best role ever as the wild boy, Sydney.
Something that is continuously interesting about the film is how everything that happens throughout reflects that of a normal romantic comedy, only that it has the gender roles reversed. Typically Zooey would really be Sydney, and Sydney would be Zooey. Sydney would end up feeling threatened by Peter becoming extremely close to Zooey, while Zooey would feel as though she may be helping Peter be freer.
This goes along greatly with what the film essentially sets out to do, and that is challenge typical assumptions. Although on the surface, the film appears to be saying men must learn how to be men from other men. But what is going on below the surface suggests the film's real message is people in general need to look at others to see if that is how they want to be. And as the film progresses, we see what truly is Peter and what works for him as opposed to what isn't him and what doesn't work. It is humorous but also powerful in that it holds a mirror up to the viewer and asks them to look at themselves.
A lot of hate could be placed on the film in terms of how it portrays Peter's metrosexuality, and overall how it portrays male bonding. To see the film as encompassing these two things would be to miss it completely, as it says more about individual choice and happiness than it does about what men truly need in order to enjoy heterosexual relationships.
The film isn't as deep as the ones starring Carell, Rogen and Segel, but it is nonetheless on par with them in terms of overall entertainment value. There are plenty of sight gags that will stick with viewers for days and lines that will likely be regulars in pop culture pretty soon. Rudd proves he can put a movie squarely on his shoulders and make it succeed. Props should be given overall to the cast and director for a job well done, but none of it would have mattered, or worked for that matter, had Rudd's appeal and goofiness not been the film's main attraction.
- Scott Hansen
Steve Carell had his chance. Seth Rogen had his chance. Jason Segel had his chance. Pretty much everyone that worked with Judd Apatow was given their chance to star in a movie except for Rudd, who for some odd reason had to wait the longest out of all the previous names while having more credentials and acting experience. But much like those previously named, he delivers a comedy that is actually funny and at the center of it all has a ton of heart to admire and enjoy in "I Love You Man."
Rudd plays Peter, a hardcore metrosexual who recently discovered through his proposal to his fiancé that he has no real close male friends. Now in a change-filled world this wouldn't be a big deal, and just having no best man would be something different. But Peter's fiancé Zooey, played by the beautiful Rashida Jones, begins to think it may not be a good idea to marry someone so dependent upon someone from the opposite sex. Thus, Rudd sets out to find someone to be his best man, eventually stumbling upon perhaps Jason Segel's best role ever as the wild boy, Sydney.
Something that is continuously interesting about the film is how everything that happens throughout reflects that of a normal romantic comedy, only that it has the gender roles reversed. Typically Zooey would really be Sydney, and Sydney would be Zooey. Sydney would end up feeling threatened by Peter becoming extremely close to Zooey, while Zooey would feel as though she may be helping Peter be freer.
This goes along greatly with what the film essentially sets out to do, and that is challenge typical assumptions. Although on the surface, the film appears to be saying men must learn how to be men from other men. But what is going on below the surface suggests the film's real message is people in general need to look at others to see if that is how they want to be. And as the film progresses, we see what truly is Peter and what works for him as opposed to what isn't him and what doesn't work. It is humorous but also powerful in that it holds a mirror up to the viewer and asks them to look at themselves.
A lot of hate could be placed on the film in terms of how it portrays Peter's metrosexuality, and overall how it portrays male bonding. To see the film as encompassing these two things would be to miss it completely, as it says more about individual choice and happiness than it does about what men truly need in order to enjoy heterosexual relationships.
The film isn't as deep as the ones starring Carell, Rogen and Segel, but it is nonetheless on par with them in terms of overall entertainment value. There are plenty of sight gags that will stick with viewers for days and lines that will likely be regulars in pop culture pretty soon. Rudd proves he can put a movie squarely on his shoulders and make it succeed. Props should be given overall to the cast and director for a job well done, but none of it would have mattered, or worked for that matter, had Rudd's appeal and goofiness not been the film's main attraction.
- Scott Hansen
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