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What an interesting evening show. Soon after I sat down, I noticed something peculiar. I was the only chick in the theater. I began counting. Groups of men came in until finally there were about seventy people in the theater. An informal count showed that of those seventy people, there were only 10 women (including me).
Clearly, I Love You Man (104 minutes) is generating a lot of interest among the testosterone-fueled set. That’s not entirely surprising when even the supporting female actors built their careers on man-friendly comedy. And this is certainly a man-friendly comedy! When you stop to think about it, there are very few movies that deal with the emotional connections men share — with the obvious exception of anything that Judd Apatow had had anything to do with, ever. Director John Hamburg (who also co-wrote) does not share an obvious Apatow connection, despite borrowing some of his favorite players…but a quick review of his Internet Movie Database credits reveal that he did three episodes of Apatow’s canceled-too-soon cult classic Undeclared. Mystery, solved.
{mosimage} Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) gets engaged to Zooey (Rashida Jones from The Office). Interestingly enough, Zooey never gets a last name, and we never hear anything about her family…sign number one that this is a movie by, for, and about men. Even though Peter seems to have a very busy life and a supportive family, he does not seem to have any close male friends. This doesn’t seem to bother him until he overhears Zooey and her five million friends smacktalking his freakish, friendless status.
Once he realizes he doesn’t know anyone well enough to request their services as a best man, he embarks on a series of ill-advised man-dates with Lonnie (Joe Lo Truglio), Doug (the hysterical Thomas Lennon), and Mel (Murray Gershenz). Enter Sydney Fife (Jason Segal AKA Marshall from How I Met Your Mother). Sydney impresses Peter with his vast knowledge of grilled Italian sandwiches, male farting signifiers and progressive Canadian rockers Rush. Their relationship quickly evolves until the two are jamming in Sydney’s man-cave, eating lunch together every day, and tuxedo-shopping.
In the middle of all this male bonding, Peter attempts to sell Lou Ferrigno’s house, without much success. Subplot A focuses on the evil Tevin Downey (Rob Huebel) and his efforts to force Peter off the listing.
Subplot B focuses on the comedically abusive marriage of Zooey’s friend Denise (Jaime Pressley) to Barry (Jon Favreau). There’s nothing healthier (or funnier!) than watching two married people emotionally abuse each other while planning to have children together.
Subplot C focuses on the unhappiness of Hailey (Sarah Burns). See, without a boyfriend of her own, her life is just so meaningless and empty.
Playing small roles as Mrs. and Mr. Klaven are the dried out remains of what used to be Jane Curtain (Jane! Botox is not your friend!) and the fabulous J.K. Simmons.
Overall, this is a pretty funny movie. There is a little bit of gross-out humor (vomit and dog poo, though not altogether in one scene), but it is used to good effect. And yes, there is an after-credits sequence that is worth sticking around for.
Take a Man Date for Dinner and a Movie
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