Hello, all.
Being a little inclined toward introspection, I've noticed that most of the films I'm recommending are coming from my formative years - that delightfully decadent decade we lovingly call the 80s - so it's appropriate to fast forward a little to a very solid comedy released barely over a decade ago.
Despite the role in CLUELESS that introduced him as a dependable actor in the rom-com arena [it certainly wasn't his role in whichever dreck-fest HALLOWEEN sequel he was in], Paul Rudd really established his comedic chops in the Apatow flicks... but the crowning achievement of his work in this particular genre was doubtless his role in today's recommended flick:
I LOVE YOU, MAN
And I love this flick. It isn't just because Rush makes a cameo, tho' that certainly doesn't hurt, but because the film manages to achieve a sense of verisimilitude despite its many contrivances. The connection between Rudd and his cinematic counterpart [played by Jason Segel] feels real. His issues with his fiancee [played by Rashida Jones] feels real. The ubiquitous "they" say to "write what you know," and so I'm thinking that this film must have been written out of some real experiences or observations, because it just never comes across as hollow or forced... even tho' there are some scenes that should. We probably all have that mutual friend that is an officious yutz [like Jon Favreau's "Barry" in this one] or the guy who's feeling lost amid his family-bound friends. It's a rare thing for a comedy to be funny and real and not overtly patronize the audience... the tendency is to point out the joke in such an on-the-nose way that everyone gets it, tho' that inherently spoils the joke. This one doesn't make that mistake. It's just plain good.
If you're interested, please do check out the trailer embedded below:
Full disclosure: I was one of those guys that, as the trailer says, was "a girlfriend guy." My suspicion is that I'm not the only one here who tended to ditch my guy friends when one of those mysterious female creatures decided to spend time with me, either. If that's you, too, then this movie is definitely for you.
And if it isn't, it's still a great flick. While it's a somewhat formulaic buddy comedy in structure [like Rudd's earlier work in the raunchier, far more forced feeling (but still funny) ROLE MODELS], the play's the thing, and Rudd is great, as is Segel, and as is Jones.
Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - GROUNDHOG DAY, Day 2 - KINGPIN, Day 3 - TRADING PLACES, Day 4 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF; Day 5 - MODERN TIMES; Day 6 - AIRPLANE!; Day 7 - CHEECH AND CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE; Day 8 - STRIPES; Day 9 - I MARRIED A STRANGE PERSON!; Day 10 - STRANGE BREW; Day 11 - CLERKS; Day 12 - GHOSTBUSTERS; Day 13 - MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE; Day 14 - DUMB AND DUMBER; Day 15 - THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN; Day 16 - THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD!; Day 17 - VALLEY GIRL; Day 18 - THANK YOU FOR SMOKING; Day 19 - A FISH CALLED WANDA; Day 20 - THIS IS SPINAL TAP; Day 21 - REAL GENIUS]
Being a little inclined toward introspection, I've noticed that most of the films I'm recommending are coming from my formative years - that delightfully decadent decade we lovingly call the 80s - so it's appropriate to fast forward a little to a very solid comedy released barely over a decade ago.
Despite the role in CLUELESS that introduced him as a dependable actor in the rom-com arena [it certainly wasn't his role in whichever dreck-fest HALLOWEEN sequel he was in], Paul Rudd really established his comedic chops in the Apatow flicks... but the crowning achievement of his work in this particular genre was doubtless his role in today's recommended flick:
I LOVE YOU, MAN
And I love this flick. It isn't just because Rush makes a cameo, tho' that certainly doesn't hurt, but because the film manages to achieve a sense of verisimilitude despite its many contrivances. The connection between Rudd and his cinematic counterpart [played by Jason Segel] feels real. His issues with his fiancee [played by Rashida Jones] feels real. The ubiquitous "they" say to "write what you know," and so I'm thinking that this film must have been written out of some real experiences or observations, because it just never comes across as hollow or forced... even tho' there are some scenes that should. We probably all have that mutual friend that is an officious yutz [like Jon Favreau's "Barry" in this one] or the guy who's feeling lost amid his family-bound friends. It's a rare thing for a comedy to be funny and real and not overtly patronize the audience... the tendency is to point out the joke in such an on-the-nose way that everyone gets it, tho' that inherently spoils the joke. This one doesn't make that mistake. It's just plain good.
If you're interested, please do check out the trailer embedded below:
Full disclosure: I was one of those guys that, as the trailer says, was "a girlfriend guy." My suspicion is that I'm not the only one here who tended to ditch my guy friends when one of those mysterious female creatures decided to spend time with me, either. If that's you, too, then this movie is definitely for you.
And if it isn't, it's still a great flick. While it's a somewhat formulaic buddy comedy in structure [like Rudd's earlier work in the raunchier, far more forced feeling (but still funny) ROLE MODELS], the play's the thing, and Rudd is great, as is Segel, and as is Jones.
Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - GROUNDHOG DAY, Day 2 - KINGPIN, Day 3 - TRADING PLACES, Day 4 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF; Day 5 - MODERN TIMES; Day 6 - AIRPLANE!; Day 7 - CHEECH AND CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE; Day 8 - STRIPES; Day 9 - I MARRIED A STRANGE PERSON!; Day 10 - STRANGE BREW; Day 11 - CLERKS; Day 12 - GHOSTBUSTERS; Day 13 - MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE; Day 14 - DUMB AND DUMBER; Day 15 - THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN; Day 16 - THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD!; Day 17 - VALLEY GIRL; Day 18 - THANK YOU FOR SMOKING; Day 19 - A FISH CALLED WANDA; Day 20 - THIS IS SPINAL TAP; Day 21 - REAL GENIUS]
