ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH TO SAY IT?
Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is about to marry Zooey (Rashida Jones), but the fact that he’s never had any real close male friends bothers him to the degree that he tries to find a man he can call his best buddy. The ultimate “bromantic” comedy? Here’s a film about male friendship that borrows themes, sentiments (and stars) from Judd Apatow’s world, but does it without making his traditional mistake – there’s no bloated running time. The filmmakers also avoid falling into any predictable, crass traps; the story is nicely balanced between the sweet, hilarious and the blunt. Likable performances by Rudd and Jason Segel lead a terrific cast.
2009-U.S. 104 min. Color. Produced by John Hamburg, Donald De Line. Directed by John Hamburg. Screenplay: John Hamburg, Larry Levin. Cast: Paul Rudd (Peter Klaven), Jason Segel (Sydney Fife), Rashida Jones (Zooey Rice), Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin… Jon Favreau, Thomas Lennon, Lou Ferrigno.
Last word: “Jason is interesting. We like to say he’s a cross between a golden retriever and a serial killer. He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, but he can be a little creepy. He’ll hold your gaze for a little too long when you’re talking. I’ll be talking with the cameraman and I’ll feel a guy come up from behind and grind up against me, and it’s Jason. When Paul’s character meets Jason, he doesn’t know what to make of him. So the mysterious qualities I wanted in [Segel’s character] Sidney Fife, I found in Jason.” (Hamburg, Interview Magazine)
