I Love You, Man is the latest comedy directed by Judd Apatow John Hamburg (sorry, had to put it out there)

Plot: Real estate agent Pete Klaven (Paul Rudd) is one of those guys who has always been more comfortable relating to women than men. Now engaged to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) and in his 30′s, he suddenly realizes that he doesn’t have a single male friend. After a few amusingly disastrous man-dates, he meets Sydney Fyfe (Jason Segel) at a open-house and the two hit it off right away. The friendship starts out great and the two have an odd almost couple-like relationship but soon this threatens Peter’s career and his engagement.

I Love You, Man has a very simplistic plot but a solid script and great casting. The movie is not truly hilarious: Amusing would better describe it very much like another movie both Segel and Rudd were in: Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Most of the movie’s comical moments come from Peter’s awkwardness and embarrassment as he tries to relate to a male best pal while some others relate to sex or dog fecal matter. Paul Rudd shows off solid comic timing and physical acting skills. In some scenes, he is so absurdly awkward it is cringe-worthy but meeting Sydney progressively allows him to unleash his inner-self. Jason Segel’s Sydney is everything that Peter is not: Inhibited, confident, and easy-going. Both combine to form a dynamic and funny duo which is the heart of the movie. Rashida Jones forms the third component of this “love” triangle. She is initially glad to see that her fiance has found a best friend. However, tensions start to rise when he isn’t hanging out with her as much anymore and he seems so fond of that new guy it almost borders on gayness… A great supporting cast is highlighted by Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly who are constantly bickering at each other with great effect. Jon Favreau almost stole the limelight in some of the scenes he was in.

This movie screams Judd Apatow in some ways. Yes the actors are part of it,but the overall structure and tone of the movie is quite similar as well with the absurd comedy in the first two third of the movie and then the “sentimental” part in the last third. Ah whatever, I warned you…

Great chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jason Segel keeps this simplistic movie entertaining throughout.

B-