I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Hamburg
Produced by	Donald De Line John Hamburg
Written by	John Hamburg Larry Levin
Starring	Paul Rudd Jason Segel Rashida Jones Jaime Pressly Sarah Burns Andy Samberg J. K. Simmons Jane Curtin Jon Favreau
Music by	Theodore Shapiro
Cinematography	Lawrence Sher
Editing by	William Kerr
Distributed by	DreamWorks Pictures
Release date(s)	March 20, 2009 (2009-03-20)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Gross revenue	$91,411,693[1]

I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film. Starring Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Rashida Jones the film focuses on Peter's (Rudd) lack of male friends and the bond that forms between him and Sydney (Segel).

The film was released theatrically in North America on March 20, 2009 to mostly positive reviews ^[2] and took second spot in the box office during its opening week (to Knowing). The film was released on home video on August 11, 2009.

Plot

Peter Klaven, a real estate agent, just got engaged to Zooey Rice. Zooey is ecstatic about the engagement and calls her friends to tell them about it, but Peter does not seem to have anyone special he'd like to share the good news with. While visiting his parents, it comes out that Peter is more adept at getting along with women, instead of having any male friends. After overhearing Zooey's friends voice their concerns over the matter, Peter realizes he needs to find male friends in order to have a best man for his wedding.

Peter attempts to go on "man dates" with several men, which all end in failure, due to his general lack of knowledge in regards to "being a man". Feeling rejected, Peter is about to give up, when during an open house at Lou Ferrigno's mansion, he meets Sydney Fife. The two hit it off very well, despite having different personalities. Later, Peter calls Sydney, and they go out for drinks.

The two continue to hang out more, including Sydney showing Peter his "man cave," a space in his garage where he keeps a big-screen TV, his collection of instruments, and Rush memorabilia. Peter finally introduces Sydney to Zooey at their engagement party, but Zooey's opinion of Sydney sours when he makes a very awkward and inappropriate toast.

The next night, Peter is watching TV with Zooey, when Sydney calls and talks Peter into going to see Rush live. Zooey reluctantly agrees to join them, and at the concert she feels ignored while Peter and Sydney are bonding. The next day, while shopping for tuxedos, Sydney asks Peter why he is marrying Zooey, and also asks for an $8,000 loan. After some thought, Peter decides to loan him the money.

Zooey begins to become suspicious of Sydney, especially after he fights with Lou Ferrigno, possibly causing Peter to lose exclusive sales rights to Ferrigno's house. Peter tells Zooey that he lent Sydney money and asks her if she knows why they are getting married. Hurt and angry, Zooey leaves to stay at her friend's house.

When Peter leaves for work that next morning, he sees several embarrassing billboard advertisements for his real estate business that Sydney purchased using Peter's loan. When Peter confronts Sydney, he ends their friendship. Peter then patches things up with Zooey, explaining to her that he is nervous but ready to get married.

Peter discovers that Sydney's billboards worked after he starts receiving more clients and offers on the Ferrigno house. Peter feels bad about fighting with Sydney but doesn't re-invite Sydney to the wedding. Before the wedding, Zooey sees Peter upset, so she calls and invites Sydney, who is already on his way to the wedding. Just before the vows are to be taken, Sydney makes a dramatic entrance. He informs Peter and Zooey that he is, in fact, a successful investor and returns the money he borrowed from Peter, stating that the billboards were the couple's wedding present. Peter and Sydney declare their platonic love to each other, and Sydney assumes the role of best man.

Cast

Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, Jason Segel, John Hamburg, Larry Levin, Rashida Jones, and Paul Rudd at the premiere in Austin, Texas in March 2009.

• Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven: Rudd explained that his character, Peter, is partly based on his own personality. Slightly ashamed he said "There are facets of my own personality that I think I was able to play up a little bit in this part."^[3]
• Jason Segel as Sydney Fife: Segel said that he based the character of Sydney on Russell Brand, whom he worked with on Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Stating that Brand's "take it or leave it" attitude and mannerisms were perfectly matched for Sydney going as far as saying, "I just ripped off Russell basically."^[3] Sydney was originally a drum player but it was changed because of the similarities between Segel's character in Freaks and Geeks.^[4] "It was insane" for Segel's shooting schedule because he had to be on set for How I Met Your Mother during the day and this film at night.^[5]
• Rashida Jones as Zooey Rice
• Jaime Pressly as Denise
• Sarah Burns as Hailey
• Andy Samberg as Robbie Klaven
• J. K. Simmons as Oswald Klaven
• Jane Curtin as Joyce Klaven
• Jon Favreau as Barry Mclean: Favreau jested that he had trouble getting into character. He had "never played a character with a small penis before."^[6]
• Lou Ferrigno as Himself: This was the only part that Hamburg wrote in,^[7] saying while he was writing it that "the idea just popped into my head."^[8]
• Rob Huebel as Tevin Downey
• Aziz Ansari as Eugene
• Nick Kroll as Larry
• Mather Zickel as Gil
• Thomas Lennon as Doug Evans
• Joe Lo Truglio as Lonnie
• Josh Cooke as Alan
• Jay Chandrasekhar as Party Guest
• David Krumholtz as Sydney's Buddy
• Larry Wilmore as Minister
• Brennan Reynolds as Shirt
• Carla Gallo as Zooey's friend
• Rush as themselves
• OK Go as The Wedding Band "Tastes Like Chicken"
• Matthew Thurmon as Carter

Production

The script, Let's be Friends, was originally written by Larry Levin.^[9] It was purchased but went unused for about eleven years before the film was made.^[10] Hamburg was offered the script and kept turning it down, but after his friends moved to L.A. he was inspired by the experience of trying to meet more friends to give it a shot. When Hamburg finally took the script he rewrote it to make it as real as possible.^[7] The film was originally announced in December 2007, with production originally scheduled for March 2008.^[11] In March 2008, Variety revealed that producer Ivan Reitman's Montecito Pictures officially began production on I Love You, Man during the week of March 31, 2008.^[12]

Casting

I Love You, Man is the third collaboration between Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, following the Judd Apatow projects Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, while writer/director John Hamburg previously worked with Segel on Apatow's Undeclared television series.^[13] It only took one lunch to get Segel and Rudd to sign on to do the film and this set the stage for other actors to sign on.^[5] On February 13, 2008 it was announced that Rashida Jones would be in the female lead opposite Rudd.^[14] Later, in an interview with firstshowing.net, Jones revealed that because Segel and Rudd were already attached to the project she "knew immediately that it was gonna be even funnier than I would think."^[15] At the beginning of the March 31, 2008 week, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Jaime Pressley had joined the film's cast, playing the best friend of Rashida Jones' character.^[16] Hamburg comically stated that he was lucky in casting J.K. Simmons because his contract states "he has to be in one out of every four movies made."^[17] Jon Favreau started working on the film the same week Iron Man came out, a film which he directed. He said he "probably wouldn't have agreed to have done it had I known my life was going to be that shape", but Iron Man star Robert Downey, Jr. told him that "It is the best thing you could do" — he said 'chop wood, carry water,' which is what they do in the Kung Fu movies to keep you humble."^[6]

Anwar Sadat

One of Anwar Sadat's daughters has filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers because, in the film, Sydney names his dog after her father, and explains that the dog resembles the late Egyptian president. Samir Sabri, the lawyer in the case, has asked the US embassy to apologize. Complaints have been raised by Egyptian bloggers as well.^[18]

Rush

Rush was approached by Hamburg, who is a fan, to appear in the film. Even though Rush does not normally perform in movies, they decided to do it. The shooting schedule was tough because it was their day off right in between gigs on tour. The band later said the whole experience was fun.^[19] Hamburg felt that "once Rush got that I wasn't poking fun at them, that I'm genuinely a fan and the main characters of the movie are fans and it's kind of a loving tribute to them, I think that's when they came on board."^[20]

Release

Critical reception

Sign at Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas advertising the premiere of the film.

I Love You, Man received largely positive reviews that mostly centered on the chemistry between Rudd and Segel, as well as the supporting performances.

The film review website Rotten Tomatoes gave it an overall approval rating of 83%,^[21] with selected critics giving it an 86% approval rating.^[22] Metacritic gave it a 70% positive rating.^[23] Giving the film three out of four stars, Peter Travers with Rolling Stone said that despite the formulaic plot, "It's the variations that Rudd and Segel spin on this theme that make the movie hugely enjoyable." He also praised the supporting cast.^[24] Entertainment Weekly gave the film an A, and said that "Paul Rudd gives a startlingly funny and original performance."^[25] USA Today gave the film a glowing review, stating "the movie works because everything hinges on the camaraderie and undeniable chemistry between Rudd and Segel."^[26] More conservatively, People magazine said the movie "sails along on goodwill and blush-worthy bawdiness," but concluded that "like instant chocolate pudding, it goes down easy — even if it isn't especially good for you."^[27]

The film was not without its critics, however. Peter Rainer of The Christian Science Monitor was not impressed with the film, and after noting that the character Sydney seemed to be written for Owen Wilson, Rainer remarked, "Maybe Wilson was busy. Lucky him."^[28] The Colorado Daily described the relationship between the male leads as a "watered-down false bromance", noting that the pace of their relationship seemed "rushed", and that Peter was looking out for his wife rather than his best friend.^[29]

Box office

In its U.S. opening weekend, the film made $17,810,270 in 2,711 theaters, ranking number two at the box office. As of August 2009, the film has grossed $71,440,011 domestically and $19,971,682 internationally making $91,411,693 worldwide. I Love You, Man was able to stay in the box office top ten for five weeks. So far this places it at number 27 of films released in 2009.^[1]

Home video

The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 11, 2009 in the US and August 24, 2009 in Europe and as of November 2009 generated more than $22 million in DVD sales. I Love You, Man was ranked number two in sales during its opening week and declined from there.^[30] The DVD extras contains an hour and a half of content including a full performance of "Limelight." ^[31]

Awards

The film has been nominated for Best Kiss for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards for the smooch between Thomas Lennon's character Doug and Rudd's Peter, but lost to Twilight.^[32] It was also nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Film - Wide Release" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.^[33]

Soundtrack

I Love You, Man
Soundtrack by Various Artists
Released	March 17, 2009 (2009-03-17)
Length	49:11
Label	Lakeshore Records
Producer	Theodore Shapiro
Professional reviews
Allmusic link SoundtrackNet link

References

External links

• Official website
• I Love You, Man at the Internet Movie Database
• I Love You, Man at Rotten Tomatoes
• I Love You, Man at Metacritic