THE MOVIE PAGES presents PAUL RUDD & JASON SEGEL in I LOVE YOU MAN Iloveyouman.htm

What Do The Critics Say?

"Chillax with a laugh-out-loud marathon that's even better than The Wedding Crashers."
Peter Hammond HOLLYWOOD.COM
"A lightweight, silly comedy with plenty of laughs and a very pleasant watch."
Mickey McMonagle UK SUNDAY MAIL
"It has the year's biggest laughs."
Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER EXPRESS
"Making the previously implicit, very explicit: and funny"
Holly Grigg-Spall CHANNEL 4 FILM
"Easily the funniest comedy of the year so far." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON
"An amusing scenario gets a big boost from winning performances all round."
EMPIRE MAGAZINE
"A buddy movie and a gross-out comedy rolled into one.. enjoyable and clever flick."
David Edwards UK DAILY MIRROR

"An affable buddy comedy that goes in the right directions and pushes the right buttons."
Robin Clifford REELING REVIEWS
"Rousingly funny at times, and overarchingly sweet"
Kurt Loder MTV
"Hilariously funny from beginning to end."
Michael A. Smith NOLAN'S POP CULTURE REVIEW
"Really, I Love You, Man is a wonderfully clever romantic comedy."
Matthew Razak DC EXAMINER
"Poised to be the comedy film to beat this year."
Jeffrey Lyles GAZETTE
"Funnier than Bride Wars, New in Town or Confessions of a Shopaholic: combined."
Marshall Fine HOLLYWOOD & FINE
"A refreshingly delightful and intelligent comedy filled with warmth, charisma and wit."
Avi Offer NYC MOVIE GURU

The Inside Story Romantic comedies often share the same basic construct: boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. John Hamburg’s "I Love You, Man" turns that classic approach on its head: it’s a 'bromantic' comedy that takes a look at friendship between two guys; in this case, two men who are complete opposites. After proposing to his girlfriend, Zooey Rice, Peter Klaven, a successful young L.A. real estate agent, realizes that, unlike his fiancée, who immediately calls her closest friends to share the news, he has no close buddies. In fact, he has no male friends at all. After years of being a committed 'girlfriend guy' focused on romantic relationships, Peter learns that his lack of male friendship worries Zooey, so he embarks on a hurried quest to make a male friend who can serve as Best Man at his wedding. Under the guidance of his brother, Robbie, a personal trainer who is gay and seems to know a thing or two about guys, Peter embarks on a series of disastrous 'man-dates' and, quite by accident, crosses paths with Sydney Fife, a charismatic bachelor who cruises open-houses for free food and lonely divorcées. Peter is intrigued with Sydney, and the two men embark on a friendship that teaches Peter something he’s never experienced, the true meaning of male bonding, but also threatens his relationship with Zooey, forcing him to make some difficult choices. "I Love You, Man" began its life as a spec script by Larry Levin ("Dr Dolittle" & "Dr Dolittle 2") entitled "Let’s Make Friends", which grabbed the immediate attention of producer Donald De Line ("The Italian Job" & "Body Of Lies"). "It had a basic, classic romantic comedy structure, but with a twist: it was about how a man in his thirties finds a new best friend. There hadn’t been a movie about male friendship or a comedy that explored men’s problems with intimacy." His reaction? "I said Done." The project soon came to the attention of John Hamburg ("Meet the Parents" & "Along Came Polly"), who was busy juggling numerous projects, both as writer and director. "Every so often, we would talk on the phone, and John would say, 'What’s going on with ‘Let’s Make Friends?' I’d say, 'It’s here: c’mon, jump in,' and then he’d go off and do something else," De Line recalls. But the producer continued his quest to bring Hamburg aboard, knowing he was perfectly suited for the project. "John’s a brilliant comedy writer and director. Everything he writes is imbued with a certain intelligence and sophistication. He knows how to make movies that translate on a level that appeals to everyone and he’s always able to tap into something we can all relate to." Executive producer Andrew Haas ("Without A Paddle" & "Observe & Report") concurs the film "was the perfect match for John's sensibilities because he has such a firm understanding of the human experience. He knows how people relate to each other, but he’s also an incredibly funny guy, so he’s always able to infuse a sense of realistic humor into his work." "What John brings to this project is character detail and an emotional truth that’s at the core of everything he’s done, no matter how absurd or ‘out there’ the premise may at first appear. With John, you comfortably slip into the main character’s shoes and recognize feelings and situations that you yourself may have experienced. That kind of approach to comedy is what sets John apart." De Line explained. More than five years after first reading "Let’s Make Friends", Hamburg found himself thinking about the storylines premise. He soon came up with his own take on the story of a man without any close male friends, who goes on a quest to find a Best Man before his wedding. He called it, "I Love You, Man".

For the pivotal role of Peter Klaven, Hamburg immediately thought of his longtime friend, actor Paul Rudd. "There’s a kind of open-mindedness to this character that I like," says Rudd who played John Lennon in "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story". "He has a positive attitude, but is often ill-equipped to handle many situations in the optimal way. He’s well meaning, and often wears his heart on his sleeve, but there’s something bumbling about him. I relate to Peter, in many ways. John and I keep making jokes that the character is a lot like each of us." Rudd admits he has always been a big fan of Hamburg’s writing style. "I’ve known John for years and read many things he’s written. All his male characters are similar to him in many ways, and I connect with all of them for the same reason. He’s really subtle about writing situations in a very funny but completely guileless way. He truly understands what’s funny about the banal." Rudd ("The 40 Year Old Virgin" & "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy") notes his character has a penchant for coming up with what he thinks are cool nicknames that leave everyone scratching their heads. "His phraseology is also a little behind the times. He comes up with strange things that sound like they came out of the mouth of a fourteen year old," Rudd offered. "I mean, you don’t meet a lot of guys in their thirties who say things like 'Totes Magotes', but there’s something very funny about being earnest and saying those things. It’s so wonderfully dumb." After his string of unsuccessful (and hilarious) 'man-dates', Rudd's character Peter meet Sydney Fife, an honest, out-going guy who is like a breath of fresh. To flesh out the enigmatic and charismatic Sydney Fife, Hamburg was certain actor Jason Segel would be Rudd’s ideal sparring partner. Hamburg and Segel had worked together several years earlier on Judd Apatow’s TV series "Undeclared" and Segel has since carved himself a comic niche in films with such hits as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". "I got a call from John, saying that he had this great script and that Paul Rudd was playing one of the leads and he wanted me for the other part," Segel ("Dead Man on Campus") recalls. "I never get calls like that." Segel appreciated the script’s naturalistic comedy tone and immediately took to the character. "It’s my favorite style of comedy, which is reality-based and not very broad or schtick-y. There are no hacky jokes so, as an actor, you get to bring some naturalism to the comedy." The chance to work with Rudd again helped seal the deal. "I love acting opposite Paul. We were in "Knocked Up" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" together. There’s nothing better than having somebody you can play verbal ping pong with on a comedic level and Paul is the quickest guy around. I know that anytime there’s the slightest lapse, Paul will swoop in with a great joke." Rudd was quick tp return the compliment. "Jason is really funny. I think we both really understood these characters and wanted to veer off into some unexplored territory while shooting a scene. Jason has a real affinity for working that way, as do I." The two actors are clearly good friends: both on and off set, so they already shared the kind of chemistry needed to create a convincing on-screen bond. "It’s extremely powerful when the two of them are on the set together," notes co-star Jaime Pressly, "because they really do enjoy each other’s company and respect each other, and that comes through on camera. They’re hilarious." "In addition to being the quickest guy I’ve worked with, Paul is also one of the nicest. I’m heterosexual through and through, but I gotta tell you, that guy is dreamy," Segel quipped.

"Sydney is almost blatant, and Jason’s good like that, because he can also be candid; but in a good way," says co-star Rashida Jones. "Jason adds levels of floppy doggedness to Sydney, as well as a dim shade of creepiness, like someone who holds your gaze just a bit too long," says Rudd. "He walks the line of creating a character you believe could either shower you with gifts or kill you in your sleep. He can actually be both simultaneously. It’s fascinating." De Line believes "Paul and Jason balance each other out in almost every way. Paul’s a little on the shorter side, Jason’s taller. Paul is kind of clean cut, all-American, while Jason’s a bit left of center, somewhat bohemian and a little rock ‘n roll. In every way, their energies complement one another. Their differences are perfectly suited to their characters." Rashida Jones (who played Detective Carla Merced in TV's "Wanted"), plays Peter’s fiancée Zooey Rice. She was enthusiastic about playing a role that went far beyond the typical comedy girlfriend. "Zooey is a completely developed human being, who’s an active participant in the film. That kind of part is hard to find. She’s not just someone’s girlfriend or wife; she’s a multi-dimensional, fully realized character." Hamburg sensed that Jones had both the comedic chops and affability for the role. "Rashida is very smart, and when you’re working with people like Paul and Jason who are really quick, you need someone who can be at that same level. She’s right up there with them." "There’s an innate likeability to Rashida, and it shines through on screen. Plus, she’s beautiful," says Rudd. "She has the ability to ground something in reality and still be really funny. We really lucked out that she agreed to be in the movie." As for Zooey’s relationship with Sydney, Jones ("Little Black Book") says, "She doesn’t quite know what to make of him. But she still wants Peter to have a friend, so she tries really hard." By doing so, she observes something in Peter and Sydney that most women rarely get to see. "Zooey represents the perspective of women watching how men become friends. It’s like watching some kind of anthropological experiment." Unlike Peter, Zooey has plenty of friends and two very close ones, Denise and Hailey. "Denise and Hailey really represent opposite sides of Zooey," says Jones. "Denise is incredibly opinionated and strong-willed, while Hailey is more wishy-washy." Burns ("Serial") is more explicit in her description of Hailey. "She’s been single for a long time and she’s miserable about its. She works really hard at getting a boyfriend and shoots herself in the foot every time she tries. Let’s just say she comes on a little strong." The three women own a furniture/home design store together and seem to know everything about each other. Pressly (Joy Turner in ninety six episodes of "My Name Is Earl") believes that unlike men, women tend to leave no detail unexposed, particularly when it comes to sex. "Women are actually worse that way because we get together and talk about everything under the sun, and in more graphic terms than men. I think when men get together, they don’t really give away as much because there’s more of an ego there; they want to be a little more cool." Burns agrees, adding, "Women talk much more about sex and their bodies and things that go wrong with their bodies. When guys talk about sex, it’s kind of creepy and disgusting; when women do it, it’s like a bonding experience." J.K. Simmons ("Spider-Man" trilogy) and two time EMMY Award winnerJane Curtin ("Kate & Allie") were cast as Peter's parents. "We were so lucky to have gotten both J.K. and Jane," says Hamburg. Synopsis

Peter is a successful real estate agent who has big dreams for the future. Part of that future is his beautiful, loving girlfriend Zooey, the woman of his dreams. When she accepts his proposal for marriage, he's over the moon. But later, he overhears Zooey's girlfriends discussing his 'problem'. Much to his his dismay and chagrin, they've spotted a problem with the groom to be: he has no male friends, and that means he hasn't anyone who can serve as his Best Man. Peter, with the help of his gay brother, immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward "man-dates". Then, at an open-house inspection for a cliente he meets Sydney, a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But the closer the guys get, the more Peter’s relationship with Zooey suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between his fiancée and his new found 'bro'.

The Verdict

"No doubt, the vast majority of cinemagoers who take in "I Love You, Man" will come away feeling totally uplifted. You can put that down to the films likeable lead characters: "Role Models" Paul Rudd; "Saving Sarah Marshall" star Jason Segel; Rashida Jones who plays Karen Filippelli in the US version of "The Office" and "My Name is Earl" star, Jaime Pressly. All fit together as snuggly as pieces in a finished Jigsaw Puzzle. "I Love You, Man" oozes chemistry, thanks to characters that are extremely likeable. The laughs come thick and fast throughout the film, as long as you are not easily offended. Over the years we've been fed a diet of films in which women are on a quest to meet 'Mr Right'. Now the guys get their turn. In "I Love You, Man", Peter Klaven is looking for the right man, someone who can be his best man. No it's not a gay film, even though Peter's brother 'is' gay and shock horror, there is a man-kiss. Peter is looking for a suitable male friend to be at his side on the day he marries the girl of his dreams, Zooey. In this day and age, guys have woken up to the fact that women have (in the main) lots of reliable and in many cases lifelong girlfriends, whereas guys have a few mates. Peter's problem is he doesn't have one man friend. His quest to meet guys and makes friends (in the hope of finding a best man), is a one fraught with pitfalls, and they produce some memorable comedic moments. Kudos to screenwriters John Hamburg & Larry Levin; Director John Hamburg and the cast (including Jane Curtin & J.K. Simmons) for a film that is both funny and very entertaining. Stay for the credits. 4 STARS." Who Plays Who?

Paul Rudd
Rashida Jones
Jason Segel
Sarah Burns
Greg Levine
Jaime Pressly
Jon Favreau
Jane Curtin
J.K. Simmons
Andy Samberg
Jean Villepique
Rob Huebel
Mather Zickel
Aziz Ansari
Nick Kroll
Thomas Lennon
Murray Gershenz
Joe Lo Truglio

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Peter
Zooey
Sydney
Hailey
Hailey's Date
Denise
Barry
Joyce Klaven
Oswald Klaven
Robbie Klaven
Leanne (Davis Dunn Receptionist)
Tevin Downey
Gil
Eugene
Larry
Doug
Mel Stein
Lonnie (Voice Crack Guy)

The Production Team

Director
Screenplay
From a story
Producers
Original Music
Cinematography
Film Editor
Casting
Production Designer
Art Direction
Set Decoration
Costume Designer

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John Hamburg
John Hamburg & Larry Levin
by Larry Levin
Donald De Line & John Hamburg
Theodore Shapiro
Lawrence Sher
William Kerr
Allison Jones
Andrew Laws
Eric Sundahl
Christopher Carlson
Leesa Evans