I love You Man
What?
Peter is a ladies man, not in the sense that he is some open shirted, medallion wearing lathario; it’s just that he has always gotten on better with woman than with men. In fact he doesn't really have any male friends, a fact that becomes painfully apparent when he proposes to his girlfriend, Zooey and his thoughts turn to who he will ask to be his best man. It seems to Peter that everyone else has mates - poker cronies, gym partners, drinking buddies - except him. Enter Sydney who shows up one day at the house Peter is trying to sell for Lou - The Hulk - Ferrigno. Sydney is something of a free spirit, and still lives the life he led at 18; both Peter and Sydney have a lot in common and quickly become best mates. They become so close in fact that their friendship threatens to derail Peter and Zooey’s impending nuptials.
This is the latest in the relatively new genre - the Bromance - a romantic comedy geared toward men, and male relationships. Paul Rudd seems to be the poster boy for this new genre and his likable persona goes some way to making this movie rather likeable. Director John Hamburg follows the romantic comedy blue print, inverting it to include male bonding and gags about stepping in dog shit; but he is also mindful about appealing to the broader audience - Bromance or not this is still a date movie - and ensures that Zooey her friends and the wedding prep get some decent screen time too. He also throws in a couple of gross out gags, as is the way of modern comedy, one in particular had me laughing so hard, even though it was so wrong – you’ll know it when you see it! The one gripe I have though is that there were not enough of these moments. Jason Segel plays Sydney, the wild and crazy guy who leads Peter astray - except he is not really that wild and crazy, there is an amusing scene with Lou Ferrigno - but these moments are too few and far between. I have not seen Segel in anything before, and although he is okay here, (in a role that perhaps would have been better suited to someone like Sean William Scott) he didn't make the impact for me that his character should have. The movie plays to its inevitable climax, and is mildly amusing, (and a bit cringy I have to say) throughout; it just could, and should, have been funnier.
Optics:
The print is nice and vibrant with good colour reproduction and a fresh feel. Skin tones are natural and blacks are solid, I did notice one or two instances of edge enhancement, mainly when characters were stood against lighter back grounds, but this wasn’t a big issue. Detail is okay and the print is clean as you would expect, but on the whole the image is an adequate, if not out standing one.
Sonics:
The sound track is predominantly from the front sound stage, dialogue is clear and locked to the centre speaker and there are one or two nice steering effects. The surrounds get in on the action during the rock gig scenes, as does the sub, filling the sound field nicely; but the mix is not an incredibly active one, although it is more than adequate for the feature.
Extras:
The Commentary from Hamburg et al is a lively affair and worth a listen and the gag reel is quite amusing, but the extended and deleted scenes don’t add much and the making of is an exercise in back slapping.
Well?
A feel good movie, that does indeed make you feel good. The characters are likeable, the story is simple, if predictable, and there are a few laughs to be had, plus your girlfriend will probably enjoy it as much as you – everyone’s a winner right? Well kind of, in trying to appeal to everyone the movie does feel a little lightweight, and really could have been funnier.
Kris Williams
Peter is a ladies man, not in the sense that he is some open shirted, medallion wearing lathario; it’s just that he has always gotten on better with woman than with men. In fact he doesn't really have any male friends, a fact that becomes painfully apparent when he proposes to his girlfriend, Zooey and his thoughts turn to who he will ask to be his best man. It seems to Peter that everyone else has mates - poker cronies, gym partners, drinking buddies - except him. Enter Sydney who shows up one day at the house Peter is trying to sell for Lou - The Hulk - Ferrigno. Sydney is something of a free spirit, and still lives the life he led at 18; both Peter and Sydney have a lot in common and quickly become best mates. They become so close in fact that their friendship threatens to derail Peter and Zooey’s impending nuptials.
This is the latest in the relatively new genre - the Bromance - a romantic comedy geared toward men, and male relationships. Paul Rudd seems to be the poster boy for this new genre and his likable persona goes some way to making this movie rather likeable. Director John Hamburg follows the romantic comedy blue print, inverting it to include male bonding and gags about stepping in dog shit; but he is also mindful about appealing to the broader audience - Bromance or not this is still a date movie - and ensures that Zooey her friends and the wedding prep get some decent screen time too. He also throws in a couple of gross out gags, as is the way of modern comedy, one in particular had me laughing so hard, even though it was so wrong – you’ll know it when you see it! The one gripe I have though is that there were not enough of these moments. Jason Segel plays Sydney, the wild and crazy guy who leads Peter astray - except he is not really that wild and crazy, there is an amusing scene with Lou Ferrigno - but these moments are too few and far between. I have not seen Segel in anything before, and although he is okay here, (in a role that perhaps would have been better suited to someone like Sean William Scott) he didn't make the impact for me that his character should have. The movie plays to its inevitable climax, and is mildly amusing, (and a bit cringy I have to say) throughout; it just could, and should, have been funnier.
Optics:
The print is nice and vibrant with good colour reproduction and a fresh feel. Skin tones are natural and blacks are solid, I did notice one or two instances of edge enhancement, mainly when characters were stood against lighter back grounds, but this wasn’t a big issue. Detail is okay and the print is clean as you would expect, but on the whole the image is an adequate, if not out standing one.
Sonics:
The sound track is predominantly from the front sound stage, dialogue is clear and locked to the centre speaker and there are one or two nice steering effects. The surrounds get in on the action during the rock gig scenes, as does the sub, filling the sound field nicely; but the mix is not an incredibly active one, although it is more than adequate for the feature.
Extras:
The Commentary from Hamburg et al is a lively affair and worth a listen and the gag reel is quite amusing, but the extended and deleted scenes don’t add much and the making of is an exercise in back slapping.
Well?
A feel good movie, that does indeed make you feel good. The characters are likeable, the story is simple, if predictable, and there are a few laughs to be had, plus your girlfriend will probably enjoy it as much as you – everyone’s a winner right? Well kind of, in trying to appeal to everyone the movie does feel a little lightweight, and really could have been funnier.
Kris Williams
Director:
John Hamburg
Starring:
Paul Rudd
Rashida Jones
Jason Segel
Sarah Burns
Greg Levine
Jaime Pressly
Jon Favreau
Best line:
Tagline:
"Are You Man Enough To Say It?"
Description:
Universal
Region 2
Rated 15
1Hr 30 Mins
1.85:1
(Anamorphic)
Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio commentary from director and cast
Making of
Deleted and extended scenes
Gag reel
Ratings: (Out of 5)
Film 3.0
Optics 3.0
Sonics 3.0
Extras 3.0
Overall 3.0
