Reversal of Roles?

     "I Love You Man" is a funny picture. It is crude, especially the women's potty-mouths (and man, they are good at it), but it is funny. My wife would come in from the next room and ask me to tone down the laughter - good barometer. I tried, but it was hard - especially with the multiple uncomfortable scenes, as these many dysfunctional people struggled to salvage some measure of grace among their socially interactive miscues.

     Every scene is a bit askew when the folks interact - somewhat like reality. The film's protagonist, Peter Klaven played Paul Rudd, is a Real Estate Broker, and that job, if done well, is one that requires the operative to interact well with people, and remarkably, Peter is terrible at it in most non work situations. It wasn't that he was socially dysfunctional; he wasn't. In fact he is very good with women.

     He understands them well, and he is genuinely sympathetic to their person and their needs. I hear that men like him make great husbands. His fiance', Zooey, played by Rashida Jones, certainly thinks so. He is wonderful with her, but when it comes time to fill the wedding party, he is having trouble finding anyone to fill his side, especially the best man. Peter never had any close male friends.

     Zooey wants a large, festive wedding, and Peter, on the path to becoming Mr. Devoted (Zooey's many close girlfriends actually love Peter), will have to fill his side of the lineup. Peter's family eccentric family is more than read to help Peter find some friends.

     Peter's mother, Joyce, played Jane Curtain, fixes Peter up with a "man date" for dinner. The date, with the Dangle character from Reno 911, did not turn out well, especially when the Dangle character kisses Peter goodnight - really hard on the mouth.

     I normally do not find this funny, but later that evening when Zooey kisses Peter, she asks did Peter kiss someone. He answers truthfully to the affirmative, and explained his evening, with his dinner date set up by his mother to find his best-man. Undaunted, Zooey continues to kiss Peter; after Peter goes to toilet to use "chemicals" in his mouth, and immediately complains that his mouth smells like an ashtray; to which Peter calmly explains, "Yeah, he kind of got up in there." Now, I find that funny.

    Peter's father, Oswald, played by J.K. Simmons (always a funny guy), explains to Peter at the dinner table that he has always had close friends, currently: a workmate from IBM and Peter's gay brother, Robbie, played by Andy Samberg (in a small but funny role). Robbie goes against type, and appears to be the regular guy - at ease with his father and other men, but in a very normal way.

     Peter is just the opposite from younger brother, Robbie. He is as uncomfortable with being with men, as Robbie is naturally comfortable being with heterosexual men. This role reversal against type rounds out the characters of both brothers, and lends insight into Peter's unnatural inability to comfortably interact with men socially.

     Enter Sydney Fife, played by Jason Segel, into Peter's life. He meets Sydney at an open House, and Sydney humorously explains to Peter why a young man will not buy the house even though he intimates that he may to the real estate man, Peter. From that point, Peter develops an interest in the gregarious Sydney, and the rest of the film is devoted to working out some serious issues between these two very different men, Peter's loved ones and all their ancillary friends and acquaintances.

     Director john Hamburg takes an obviously funny script from a Larry Levin story, and fashions it into a very funny picture in just 105 minutes of runtime. The comedic acting is quite good, especially that of near unknown Jason Segel, who was very good in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." It is the best Paul Rudd movie since his "Knocked-up" supporting role. All actors and story considered, the film is definitely worth the price of a rental. My wife thinks I certainly enjoyed the film.

     Rated R. Released on DVD August 11, 2009.