Paul Rudd (L) and Jason Segel star in “I Love You, Man”

“I Love You, Man” hilariously embraces the ‘bromance’ like no film has before.

After hearing Zooey and her friends gossip about Peter’s lack of friends, Peter decides to do something about it. Enlisting the help of his brother Robbie, Peter goes on a series of ‘man-dates’ to try and find a best man for his wedding. They all fail spectacularly.

Enter Sydney Fife. Sydney and Peter meet at an open house Peter is putting on. Sydney, sloppily dressed, down-to-earth and honest to a very serious fault, instantly makes an impression on Peter and they hit it off. The more time Peter spends with Sydney, the more Zooey misses him. So Peter has his best man now. But is that a good thing?

From where I’m sitting

“I Love You, Man” is the hilarious christening of a new genre: the bromantic comedy. While it religiously follows the romantic comedy formula, it does so with a major twist – the conflict revolves around two friends rather than two lovers.

As the plot doesn’t offer much in originality, the movie wouldn’t be able to hold much water if it weren’t for the considerable talent of its two stars. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel have fabulous chemistry together and make the 105 minute running time fly by.

While you shouldn’t go in expecting an emotional catharsis, and you should be aware that Sydney Fife’s painful honesty often ventures into the downright crude, “I Love You, Man” scores on a very important count – it’ s funny.

Who’s in it?

Paul Rudd (Peter Klaven)/Jason Segel (Sydney Fife). After starring together in two comedies produced by Judd Apatow, “Knocked Up” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Rudd and Segel hit it out of the park with “I Love You, Man.” Before he met Apatow, Rudd was probably best known as Phoebe’s boyfriend in “Friends.” Segel has found success in the American TV series “How I Met Your Mother.” If their performance in this film is any indication, this could be the makings of a popular new comedy duo.

The supporting cast also does a fine job, with Rashida Jones, daughter of legendary music producer Quincy Jones, as Zooey, and none other than Jon Favreau as Zooey’s best friend’s husband. After acting in “Swingers” and “Made” with a not-yet-famous Vince Vaughn, Favreau moved to directing, helming “Elf,” “Zathura” and, most recently, “Iron Man.” This performance shows Favreau has lost neither the taste nor the talent for acting.

Technically speaking

It’s obvious that this film had strong creative direction from John Hamburg. Although he’s generally new to directing, he developed his feel for comedy and his great timing through writing many successful scripts. These include the “Meet the Parents” series, “Along Came Polly,” and that classic expose of the male (Left to right) Denise (Jaime Pressly), Zooey Rice (Rashida Jones) and Hailey (Sarah Burns) are three close friends celebrating Zooey’s wedding day in the comedy “I Love You, Man” modeling industry, “Zoolander.”

The consistently good performances from the entire cast not only indicates good acting but confident and capable directing as well. All of the characters are well-defined in relation to one another and play off each other well, reflecting Hamburg’s strong vision.

Moviegoers are notoriously fickle about their comedy, and what’s funny to one person may be boring or disgusting to another. “I Love You, Man” sometimes uses vulgarity to win a laugh, and runs in the same vein as the recent popular hits “40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” It may not win any awards come winter and there probably won’t be anyone crying in the audience, but there just might be tears of laughter.

Don’t take my word for it

“I Love You, Man” has won over 80 percent of the critics on www.rottentomatoes.com, with most attributing the success of the film to the performances of the leads. Though it’ s made over US$78 million worldwide, the movie seems to cater to a more American audience, as only 10 percent of its gross has come from overseas.

Reported by Aaron Toronto