Movie Review: I love you, man

     John Hamburg’s new flick I love you, man starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel was rumored to be the best capture of the modern American male condition since Fight Club.  Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a real estate agent about to get married, but finds that he has no friends for a groomsmen or best man.  He then sets out on a number of “man dates” to find one and finds that male bonding is a difficult process that requires as much work as romantic relationships.  Enter Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), successful investor and a charismatic dichotomy of Klaven. The two instantly bond and as the bro-mance elevates, struggles with Klaven’s fiancé (Rashida Jones) rise as well. 

     There are a number of relationships that seem to be dichotomies, but turn out to work in a synergistic fashion to edify each other.  Klaven and Fife themselves are polar opposite personalities, a characteristic that appears to be a catalyst in forming their relationship.  Klaven’s relationship to Fife and his fiancé – male plutonic/female romantic dichotomy – begin to cause friction as Fife moves into Klaven’s life.  As a result he has to choose between his romantic relationship and his friendship.  As the story progresses he finds, with the help of his fiancé, that he needs male friendship to be a better man and husband. 

     The modern American male is filled with frustration, anger, and fear and as the demands of family and work take precedence he becomes more and more alienated from male friendships. Most women wonder where their men went.  The shell of the man that they fell in love with has been beaten down and molded into a nice little suburbanized employee.  They haven’t been pursuing the male friendships that alleviate that frustration, anger, and fear.  They haven’t tapped into the source of energy that male bonds provide.  Our society brings us an ultimatum at the alter of marriage – wife or friends.  It’s a sad conclusion that most men accept dogmatically and most women stand behind.  While the reality is that marriage takes a lot of work, the more subtle reality is that it takes work and a lot of help.  Friendships are that help.  They rejuvenate a man and facilitate a healthy marriage.  It was encouraging that this movie came to the same conclusion.  Oh, and it’s a pretty funny movie.