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Capone gives a big ol' masculine hug to I LOVE YOU, MAN!!!
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here, with an early look at one of the genuine surprises of Butt Numb-a-Thon X. Not that a truly funny film featuring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel is all that surprising (KNOCKED UP or FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, anyone?), but this is a work that has probably been under the radar for a lot of you, and I think it's time to blow the door off this I LOVE YOU MAN's cloak of invisibility and get you excited about seeing it when it opens in March. The film also is the Opening Night offering at the SXSW Film Festival, and I can't wait to see it again.
I'm sure a day will come when Paul Rudd will star in a bad R-rated comedy, but that day will have to wait just a little longer. It almost doesn't seem fair. Back when I interviewed him for ROLE MODELS, we talked a great deal about I LOVE YOU, MAN, and it was very clear that he was pretty happy with the script and the way the film turned out. He seemed especially pleased with the non-mean tone of the film. For the most part, this isn't a movie about people insulting each other or putting each other down for the sake of a laugh. Certainly, Rudd has been in films like that and they remain some of the funniest things I've ever seen. And I'm not implying that I LOVE YOU, MAN is some kind of feel-good horseshit that makes you want to skip out of the theater and hug 100 strangers because you've found a new lease on life. Instead, the movie manages to earn its laughs from a combination of good old-fashioned writing and trusting in its actors to do what they do best--ad lib some of the funniest jokes and references the human brain can produce. So what is this film about exactly? Allow me to let Paul Rudd explain:
"The idea is that Rashida Jones and I are this engaged couple. We get engaged right at the beginning of the movie. She says, 'yes,' she’s excited and calls her friends and asks if I want to call anybody and tell them the good news. And, so I think, Well, I have my parents, but they’re sleeping; I’ll tell them tomorrow. And, she goes, “What about any of your friends?” And, I have nobody to call. And, it’s only because…not that I’m a weirdo, it’s just that I’ve been a ‘girlfriend’ guy for so long that I don’t have any close male friendships. It becomes painfully obvious in this moment. And, she’s going to have lots of bridesmaids, and I don’t really have a best man for my wedding. My parents are Jane Curtin and J.K. Simmons, and I have a brother played by Andy Samberg, who is gay, and we’re not particularly close…And, so then, I have to go and try and meet some guys to try and find some friends. Then, it turns into a romantic comedy, but it’s kind of between two guys, because I meet some guys, and nobody’s right. And, then I meet Jason Segel. We have a very ‘meet cute’ kind of thing, where I’m a realtor and I’m showing Lou Ferrigno’s house, and he’s there, because there are hot divorcés and good food [at the open house]. Anyway, we become, you know, total…like, I have a buddy for the first time in my life, and it just rocks my world."
I couldn't have said it better myself, but allow me to fill in a few blanks. For starters, writer-director John Hamburg's screenplay is pretty great, and it taps into a concept that I'm surprised hasn't really been explored to this degree before in American movies. Like the films of Judd Apatow (who had nothing to do with the production of this film; in fact, it is Ivan Reitman who serves as one of the movie's executive producers), the film works on two levels--the level purely aimed at laughs and the subtext that actually explores some very real issues. What I also liked about Hamburg's work is that it's not a movie about man-children who need to grow up so they can move ahead in life. If anything, it's about grown men who desperately wish they could revert every so often, and they just haven't found the right guy with whom to recapture their youth and act like idiots. What I couldn't get out of my head while watching this film that Rudd and Segel could have switched characters, and I'd buy this premise just as much, maybe even more since I know about a thousand men who have confessed to me man-crushes on Paul Rudd. But Rudd so completely sells the concept of a nice guy with no guy friends that you can't help root for the poor man as he brings out a tray of hot toddies for a roomful of his fiancé's girlfriends.
Despite scaring me slightly after seeing her in a couple episodes of "Freaks and Geeks," Rashida Jones has always been in my sights, especially after her run on "The Office." I don't know how she'd be playing a wife, but she's just about damn near the perfect girlfriend/wife-to-be. In addition to being the right amount of gorgeous, her character, Zooey, also is required to be both unwaveringly supportive of her man's pursuit of other men and a little jealous when the search for a best guy friend goes a little too well, and she starts seeing less and less of Rudd's Peter. When she puts on a sad face, I just want to give her a big hug and tell her that I won't let Peter or anyone else hurt her anymore. There's a strong sweetness to her that I want to see more of in roles like this. And while she's not expected to carry the weight of the film comedically, she's a great straight man for everybody else, especially the exceptionally funny Jaime Pressly as her foul-mouthed best friend. I've always said about "My Name Is Earl" that the only things that could make Pressly funnier on the show is if she could swear, and I now know I was right. Her probing questions and confessions about sex are some of the best writing in the film. But her best moments come during the utterly vicious verbal exchanges between her and her husband (John Favreau). They are the classic fight-and-fuck couple, who only seem to get a sexual charge out of each if it's preceded by a slew of insults.
Favreau's character underscores something about Peter as well. It's not that Peter doesn't have male friends because he spends all his time with women; it's also that Peter is often rejected by the less sensitive alpha-male types. His sensitivity scares them, which is why Peter is drawn to Segel's Sydney, a guy who has no trouble talking about his feelings while also enjoying more male-oriented activities like going to bars, jam sessions, and finding creative ways to pick up women…like at Peter's open house, for example. There are about 20 different ways that Sydney could have been drawn as some kind of bad influence on Peter, but the fact is the only remotely negative thing he does is take up so much of Peter's time that Zooey begins to resent it. Writer-director Hamburg (SAFE MEN; ALONG CAME POLLY; and episodes of "Undeclared" and "Stella") deliberately keeps Sydney a bit of a mystery man and denies us a backstory on why he's living alone but apparently pretty well. He makes some vague comments about being an investor, but when he asks Peter for a loan at one point, we begin to suspect that something ain't quite right with him. Truth is, I don't remember a lot of what these two guys spent their time talking about, but I remember laughing my ass off every time they shared the screen. The exchange thoughts on relationships, sex, music, and the fine art of hanging out. Any longtime fan of Segel's going back to "Freaks and Geeks" will get a huge kick out of the running Rush references and music featured throughout the film, culminating in a near-orgasmic night out where all of their Rush dreams come true.
In a lot of ways, Rudd and Segel are the two support beams for a flock of great supporting players. The all-too-few scenes with Sandberg and Simmons are tremendous. Simmons is almost too okay with his favorite son's gayness and the terminology that goes along with the gay lifestyle. The joke, of course, is that it's the gay son who is accepted, while the straight son who is looked at as the outcast, but Simmons sells it so beautifully that you can't possibly be mad at how horribly he's treating Peter. Sandberg's lessons to Peter on meeting men (especially one scene in a gym) are great as well, especially when he reveals the truth about gay men: it's way more of a thrill for a gay guy to bed a straight man than a gay one. I KNEW it! Peter's attempted "dates" with potential best-friend candidates are an exercise in awkward behavior. A seemingly promising evening out with Thomas Lennon ends about as disastrously as humanly possible. I'll conclude this discussion of the supporting cast by saying: God bless the comedy stylings of Lou Ferrigno.
If I had even one complaint about I LOVE YOU, MAN it's that it doesn't end as strongly as everything leading up to the final scenes. The loose ends tie up nice and clean, and I'm guessing that 99 percent of the people who see this film will be right on board with that. I guess my issue has more to do with the rest of the film seeming to go out of its way to try something different, and I thought they might be able to extend that groove until the very end. The climax is by no means weak, just slightly predictable. Still, I LOVE YOU, MAN manages not only to redefine the buddy film but improves upon it and makes it funnier than it's been in years. It's a heterosexual romantic comedy for the ages, and between SARAH MARSHALL last year and this film, my only question is: What's next for this classic comedy team? Hey guys, that Wayland Flowers and Madame biopic ain't gonna make itself!
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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+ Expand All
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The Mac & Me clip that he always shows on Conan. Everything else...not so much. (And especially not the lame sitcom that was 'Knocked Up'!)
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The greatest small role actor of all time.
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Wet Hot American Summer. Could have been so much better (but I do love the recurring gag about him chucking kids out of a moving car), but Role Models certainly made up for it. I am proud to say that I have a man-crush on Paul Rudd, he's fucking awesome.
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Jan 20, 2009 2:09:26 PM CST
I saw this at BNAT. Paul Rudd just makes me laugh!
by the reluctant austinite
Paul Rudd has been on a roll since his dramatic peformance in "Halloween 6" (just kidding, Paul). Seriously, I'll pretty much line up for anything he does these days. I've enjoyed pretty much all of his work since "Wet Hot American Summer." Now, personally, I enjoyed "Role Models" a bit more than this, but I did laugh a lot during this film. Maybe it's because I'm a bigger KISS fan than a RUSH fan; this film does for RUSH what "Role Models" did for KISS. I thought about writing a review for this myself, but Capone pretty much says exactly what I would have said. Bravo Paul. Bravo Capone.
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Seems like a day in his life is never boring.
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"I'll line up for anything Paul Rudd does", "He's fucking awesome" Did I miss something? Are you people serious? You must be joking?
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...are you? What the fuck is wrong with Paul Rudd?
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No. Yes, we are. Not joking (except about "Halloween 6").
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Just didn't think he was that special.
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he never seems to come off badly when he's in shit. I even saw a couple of random episodes of Friends where he was pretty funny. And he was pretty good in LuButes The Shape of Things.You don't go out of your way see the new Rudd flick, but it's usually a good surprise when he pops up in one.
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The only way I'd hear more bitching in there is if I said not putting the squid in Watchmen was a good move.
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The dance he did in Role Models and on the Daily Show just about kill me every time I see it.
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fuck this site needs an edit button
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Where we're going we won't need roads
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keen.
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http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=4U-n7sz1oSo
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Rudd love is odd, though. Liking him I could see, but he's kind of bland, to me. But Andy Samberg is one of my most despised comedians of all time. Currently he ranks second behind Dane Cook... And if anyone in here can tell me they LOVE Dane Cook's stuff, honestly LOVE it, I'd like to hear it.
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I'm not a fan of Samberg either, but c'mon, second most despised comedian of all time? what about Carlos Mencia, Carrot Top, Frank Caliendo, Kathy Griffin, Louie Anderson, Gilbert Gotfried, and Margaret Cho?
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was on 'FRIENDS'. Anyone? Hello?
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Jan 20, 2009 4:31:57 PM CST
Don't you people have something better do with your money?
by dannyglovers_dickblood
Seriously....why the fuck on Earth would you contribute to shit like this? They shouldn't even be paid to make these kinda shitstorms. This should be community service. Fuck this shit-- fuck Paul Rudd. Fuck anyone dumb enough to be duped into seeing this garbage. I hope all of you are unemployed by the end of the month.
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I think she's where Amy Adams was around her pre-Junebug phase a few years back (and they were BOTH on the Office!). Seriously, this movie sounds funny and I'll be seeing it. I loved SARAH MARSHALL, so this sounds great. But, not to throw cold water, the whole "bro-mance" concept looks like a fast flame-out fad, what, between this movie and the gay dude flick out at Sundance with Jim Carrey and Ewan Macgregor.
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Sheeshus Capone-
How the hell you dissect this movie is pretty freaky man. Reading your review is like having a lit professor dissect a mid-term paper into little bits and then giving you an 'A'. You feel good about the grade, but never want to write another term paper. -
And I hear it's like a secret handshake amongst the comedy community in Hollywood. That is one funny freaking movie! Sorry it's not Happy Madison-enough for you.
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I love Paul Rudd comedies for the most part, but I did not laugh once during Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Pretty awkward when friends come over with the DVD saying how funny the movie was, and how I'm going to be laughing my ass off...and then not laugh. It felt like a date promising me the blowjob of a life-time, and instead I end up getting a jaws-of-life enducing hand-job.
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Best looking girl to ever appear on the Office. She'll hit it big soon. In some other movie, though.
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http://tinyurl.com/8c9sg7
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...if the whole getting-married element wasn't included. It's like people just aren't complete and normal unless they have a boyfriend or girlfriend in their lives. Why couldn't it just be about a guy who needs a solid group of friends? Why can't that happen in spite of a romance on the side?
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Its far more edgy and interesting and bizzare than the very formuliac Role Models.
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I always get J.K. Simmons mixed up with Daniel von Bargen. The fact that this confusion has happened more than once points not only to my lack of attention to detail, but also my lonely, lonely existence.
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This was actually on my original list of films that I thought we have seen at BNAT X... so I was excited to see it. It was pretty hilarious... and, yes, the cast is fantastic (especially cameos by Ferrigno and The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore!!!).
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Jan 20, 2009 6:55:26 PM CST
Danny Glover's Dick Blood is Harry, right? I get it!
by the reluctant austinite
It has to be a joke. I've been thinking for months, "That guy is so full of hate and venom, he must be one sick puppy!" Then it hit me! Nothing spurs feedback posts like hate and venom and blackhearted nastiness. It's Harry! Generating web hits! Danny Glovers Dick Blood must be Harry laughing his ass off with every blistering hateful post. The game's up chum! You're unmasked!
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Wouldn't really call the Jim Carrey/Macgregor part of the whole bromance thing. That's more straight up gaymance.
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About Paul Rudd, except for the fact that he has done a film with the not-so funny! Same pot-head in every movie Seth Rogen!
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you can stop reading this now guys
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Here is something more important to comment about. I think AICN might be racist at hip-hop! You know I dont think I have read a review or heard anything about the film NOTORIOUS? Even if it is bad, they should have a review on it, dont you think? Also what about those bad Tyler Perry films, never hear a review on how horrible they are? I think AICN might be a little racist at African-American film-making or is it just me? I mean the last thing I heard them talk about I think was a Spike Lee movie, and that was because it was a WW2 film! So let me know if this is bullshit, or straigh up fellow comment nay-sayers. I'm just looking all over this site, and cant find one dam review?
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At least that's my opiion. Mr. Beaks just ran an interview with Soulja Boy! This website has never been organized in a way that every movie that comes out each week gets reviewed. Why not? I don't know. It's a movie website, so it seems each movie coming out should get assigned a reviewer, but it has never worked that way. Harry only bothers to write reviews for films that really made him feel strongly about something. He'll only review it if he really loved it and wants you to see it or really hated it and wants it to die. The other thing is that mostly they only want to post news and reviews for films that haven't come out yet. So that means they have to attend an advance screening and they don't have a man at every advance screening. My guess is that either none of the writers here were all that interested in the films you mentioned or they didn't feel strongly enough about the final product they saw to write about it. In any case, I've known many of these guys for years and I don't think there's even an ounce of racisim in any of them. With regards to "Nototious," the intended audience for that film was absolutely hip-hop/ rap fans. I think it would be difficult for someone who wasn't a fan to give a valuable review for the film.
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this movie shoulda turned into an action movie called Cock Fight
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Though just because Notorious was aimed at rap/hip-hop fans, doesnt mean it is not a good movie, or bad movie! It made 21 million at the box office this weekend, its at least worth a mention. Hell, they gave that Mall Cop movie review..which is aimed at people who find bad comedy good! They at least gave it a mention? So your comment in true to a point, that AICN doesnt have the time to review every movie. Yet dont say that everyone on here doesnt like music or hip-hop for that matter. AICN has an audience from all corners of life? And would like to hear there thoughts on them from time to time as well!
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This website is by no means professionally run...they're all over the map (including pissing on journalistic standards whenever they want). That's okay by me. And, anyway, they've covered Samuel L. Jackson [he's black] more than any website I can think of (enough of that, by the way). There's nothing racist about Ain't it Cool. These guys are just underachievers.
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I think they didn't put a review for it, first because no one who writes to the site of themselves have seen it, and second because i think is just a by the numbers biopic... They covered Black Dynamite and stuff like Dolemite, that is very black (and good, and funny), not a biopic who executive producer is Puff Daddy/ Puffy Poffs / Puffy / P.Diddy / Diddy / Captain Crunch...
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OR themselves*, this site need an edit button...
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Just talking about how he ranks at the moment, for me. No way is he 2nd worst of all time. Though Dane Cook may very well be THE WORST comedian ever. I cannot fathom who would laugh at his stand up stuff the way I hear audiences laugh at his shows. His material is so bad that when I watch him I get that embarassed feeling for him, the way I sometimes feel when a guy is tanking really bad. I'm not even rooting for or expecting the guy to do well, but he's doing so badly I feel shame for him, me, the rest of the audience, his manager, just all involved in this fiasco. But then I hear people cracking up at this shit ,and I swear, I permanently lose a small part of hope for us all forever. (By the way, as a kid I loved Carrot Top)
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You may have picked the wrong Talkback to place your comments. A few years back, I interviewed Terrence Howard about HUSTLE & FLOW, and we talked about hip-hop artists for quite a while. But more importantly (and more recently), please feel free to read my NOTORIOUS review that ran as part of my round up on Friday (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39795). The only reason I don't review Tyler Perry movies, is because Mr. Perry doesn't screen his films for critics. I've seen every single Perry movie (and I've even liked a couple of them), and promise to review the first one he screens even one day before release. Now please get back to looking for racists on some other site.
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I hope the deluge of movies starring actors closely associated with Judd Apatow doesn't typecast them. The type of comedy may get a little tiring after a while. Will these men and women have range beyond that? We'll see.
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I know AICN aint racist! Just wanted something intresting to talk about besides this movie! The notion or the make believe myth that AICN would be racist, seems far more intresting then I, LOVE YOU MAN! HAHAHAHAHA! These talk backs need a better breed of criminal, and i'm going to give it to them!
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Sounds like a good one.
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Oh, do excuse me, I do apologise for not being in the comedy-elite. I'll go back to my Date/Epic/Disaster Movie boxset and shut my mouth. They really shouldn't let me on a computer, I mean, I could end up sticking my dick in the card reader.Then again, maybe I just have a different opinion to you. Lovecraftfan, it's certainly edgy and bizarre, I just didn't laugh alot. Now Chris Morris is edgy, bizarre (check out Jam for utter mentalistic nuttiness), and nut-bustingly hilarious.
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As a guy who actually has no male friends and surrounds himself with just women every weekend (they read comics, love movies and talk about wrestling - they're cooler than any guys I know!), I'm probably going to have to see this. In fact, it's just occured to me that I wouldn't have a best man at my wedding either! Yikes. I'm Paul Rudd!
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I think the Hebrew concept of phile (brotherly love) has been lost and distorted in our culture. Homosexualitys rise is partially to blame as it distorts what platonic friendship can be and that it is normal and not "gay" to have deep same sex relationships. The rest is partially we guys just get lazy, or career focussed and forget we need those close guy relationships. I'm a bit surprised to see Hollywood champion a cause that has been on the uprise in mainstream Christian churches. It is cool to see without strife or name calling shared social issues getting explored.
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Phile is Greek, Re'a is the Hebrew equivalent. I should never post before coffee
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I know Judd has nothing to do with it but they're all connected
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RACISM DOESN'T EXIST. FUCK YOU CHELIOoooooooooSSSSSS!!!!
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"I should never post"
/fixed -
Jan 21, 2009 2:33:59 PM CST
Um, Capone and other straight guys really need to get over thems
by homer sexual
Don't break your arm patting yourselves on the back, Capone and fellow straight guys. Despite what you may think, all us homos are not trying to get with you.
It's like saying straight men would rather bed lesbians, just for the challenge. What-ever.
We are too busy trying to turn all you straight people's kids gay, don't you know? That's what we do, we're like evangelists trying to convert everyone!
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