Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageI Love You Man (2009)
Director: John Hamburg
Movie review
From Time Out London
It’s been a steady rise to the top for Paul Rudd, from the teen heart-throbbery of ‘Clueless’ to Lisa Kudrow’s arm candy in ‘Friends’, from thankless sidekick roles for Judd Apatow to his starring turn in last year’s ‘Role Models’. And on the strength of his performance in ‘I Love You, Man’, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving chap: as Peter Klaven, the friendless ladies’ man on the lookout for a suitable best man for his upcoming nuptials, Rudd displays a rare comic sophistication and matinée charm.The rest of the film doesn’t really measure up. The concept is solid, applying rusty romcom clichés to a tale of new-found masculine buddydom. But the plot is scatty, at least until Sydney – Jason Segel’s alpha male – arrives to shake Peter out of his premarital complacency.
But a film like ‘I Love You, Man’ stands or falls on the strength of its characters. From a dog who bears a bizarre resemblance to former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat to scene-stealing appearances from the likes of JK Simmons and Jon Favreau, writer-director John Hamburg and his co-author Larry Levin cram the film with the kind of memorable, absurd cameos which betray Levin’s former employment as a ‘Seinfeld’ writer. In less sure hands this parade of oddities could have become tiresome. Which only makes Rudd’s central performance more impressive, holding the entire edifice together by sheer force of personality.
Author: Tom Huddleston
Time Out London Issue 2017, 16-22 April 2009
User reviews of this film
-
- Pokey said...
- Posted on Jun 20 2009 08:00 Wicked as movie
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Lauren said...
- Posted on May 27 2009 16:51 i went to watch this with my boyfriend and we were laughing all the way through, as were the rest of the audience. paul rudd and rashida jones were a great on screen partnership. i would reccommend to both boys and girls to watch, if you enjoy silly humour (think forgetting sarah marshal). x
- Report as inappropriate
-
- flangoo said...
- Posted on May 25 2009 23:04 a spandangling bunch of giggles, scrumptious movie!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- bambam said...
- Posted on May 16 2009 17:39 i would not recommend this film to anyone!Rubbish
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Russell said...
- Posted on May 09 2009 17:40 Gentle humour, well cast, lightweight but highly enjoyable, some great performances and a good film if you just ignore a few of the plot flaws.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Kaity said...
- Posted on May 07 2009 15:16 Very very very very very funny, the whole cinema was in hysterics. The story itself is a bit weak but definitely worth a watch if you like rom coms.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Linzi said...
- Posted on May 03 2009 18:13 ayee jade yaa rocketttttt ur not alright in the end!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Linzi said...
- Posted on May 03 2009 18:13 ayee jade yaa rocketttttt ur not alright in the end!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- kimbo said...
- Posted on May 03 2009 18:12 eeh 'jade' dina lie eh. uve nae got eh laddd! ya roooooooooket! fs min! love yeeee. xx
- Report as inappropriate
-
- james said...
- Posted on Apr 26 2009 17:49 i thought the film was really funny and would recommend it!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- angie said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2009 18:51 this a must best film in ages laughed all the way through !!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- jade said...
- Posted on Apr 22 2009 21:28 i realy want to see the film with my boyfriend but i dnt know if it would be gd..x
- Report as inappropriate
-
- TRUTH TELLER said...
-
Posted on Apr 19 2009 16:22
It's a little hard to see a guy coming up with some of the scenes in this movie but it is possibly a movie that a couple might enjoy seeing together. It's not that funny just mildly humerous with plenty of swearing that you wouldn't want your children to hear.
It's just entertaining enough to be somewhere between two and three stars. A pleasant distraction, which is often what we want from a movie, but you'd probably forget the plot by the time you got home. - Report as inappropriate
-
- Helen said...
- Posted on Apr 16 2009 19:33 This film was alright, at best. I wouldn't credit it to be ground-breaking, but there are a few good laughs. It's mostly just a way to lose a couple of hours out of your day.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: John Hamburg
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Andy Samberg, Sarah Burns, Jane Curtin, JK Simmons, Lou Ferrigno full cast
Rated: 15
Duration: 105 mins
UK Release: Apr 17 2009
US Release: Mar 20 2009
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Review a Coens' movie and win!
A signed copy of the script for 'A Serious Man' is up for grabs, and we want you to look to your inner film reviewer to win it
Ang Lee talks 'Taking Woodstock'
Ang Lee talks to Tom Huddleston about his tale of the men behind history’s greatest music festival
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Sheffield Doc/Fest round-up
Sheffield’s annual Doc/Fest is Britain’s largest documentary festival. Edward Lawrenson learnt a few new things by taking the train north.
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now