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PCR #470 (Vol. 10, No. 13). This edition is for the week of March 23--29, 2009.

This Week's PCR
Movie Review
"I Love You Man"

Movie review by:
Michael A. Smith

Movies are rated 0 to 4 stars

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MOVIE REVIEW
"I Love You Man"  by Mike Smith
RETRORAMA
OzFest 2009  by ED Tucker
MATT'S RAIL
Court Orders Ferry Fm Shutdown .... .... ....  by Matt Drinnenberg
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Not News But Funny Because The Guy Freakin Annoys Me .... Goodbye Newsprint .... Passing On .... What Recession? .... Who'd A Thunk? .... Movie Notes .... Good And Evil .... Boston Postponed .... My Favorite Films, Part 2...  by Mike Smith
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Dreamworks     
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones
Directed by: John Hamburg
Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hour 45 mins


Some men have a distinct feminine side. Not in their carriage or demeanor, but in their ability to relate well to women. I’ll admit right here that I’m one of them. I enjoy a good chick flick (I actually got the "carriage and demeanor" line from "Steel Magnolias"). I open the car door for my wife. And I’m still friendly with every woman I’ve ever dated since I was 19. But I’m happy to say that when I got married last April I didn’t have the problems Peter Klaven (Rudd) has.

Peter, a successful real estate agent, has just proposed to Zooey (Jones), his girlfriend of the past eight months. While planning the wedding she questions if Peter will have enough friends for his part of the wedding party, let alone a best man. Stunned by her comments, Peter tries to list all of his close male friends and fails miserably. His younger brother, Robbie (Andy Samberg), suggest he comb the internet and attempt to set up “man dates,” where he can meet new people and make friends. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned. On top of the wedding planning, Peter has become the exclusive realtor attempting to sell the Hollywood home of Lou Ferrigno. During an open house at Casa del Hulk, he meets Sydney (Segel), a fun lover who cruises open houses looking for divorcees. They exchange business cards and soon Peter finds himself out on the town with his new best friend.

Hilariously funny from beginning to end, “I Love You Man” will always be remembered as the film that launched Paul Rudd onto the “A” list. After a string of successful supporting roles in comedies like “Anchorman” and “The Forty-Year Old Virgin,” Rudd nails his work as Peter. Whether it’s surprising Zooey and her girlfriends by making them all root beer floats (complete with chocolate cookie straws) or trying to be one of the guys by misquoting funny lines or making up lousy catch phrases, all with a terrible accent that makes him sound like a leprechaun, he exudes a natural sweetness that’s central to the performance. Just as funny is Segel, who wrote and starred in last years’ “Saving Sarah Marshall.” As the free wheeling Sydney, who spends most of his time walking his dog, Anwar Sadat, down the boardwalk and jamming to his RUSH records, Segel is bold when he needs to be as well as genuinely sweet natured. He understands what Peter is looking for and goes out of his way to provide it. The rest of the cast is just as funny, from J.K. Simmons and Jane Curtain as Peters’ parents to the various men Peter “dates” in his attempt to find a best man. Supporting work by Jon Favreau, Jamie Pressley and Broken Lizards’ Jay Chandrasekhar is also first rate. Even Ferrigno is funny, playing off his image as the Incredible Hulk with good spirit and fun.

On a scale of zero to four stars I give “I Love You Man”


 


This week's movie review of "I Love You Man" is ©2009 by Michael A. Smith.  All graphics this page are creations of Nolan B. Canova, ©2009, all rights reserved. All contents of "Nolan's Pop Culture Review" are ©2009 by Nolan B. Canova.