I Love You, Man

A young man (Paul Rudd), recently engaged, realizes that he doesn’t have any real male friends, so he sets out to find one (and a best man for his wedding) through a series of “man dates”—only to meet a guy by chance (Jason Segel) who treats him to some real “Iron John” moments. The script by Larry Levin and director John Hamburg is a sort of Odd Couple for the 21st century (come to think of it, Segel and Rudd would make a pretty good Oscar and Felix), portraying the search for hetero friendship as a funhouse-mirror parody of courtship rituals. The ending is a bit limp and formulaic (the punch line doesn’t match the surprise-filled lead-up), but there are plenty of laughs along the way. Rashida Jones is game as Rudd’s rather bewildered fiancée, as are Jane Curtin and J.K. Simmons as his doting parents. J.L.