Here it is at last - the first truly funny comedy of 2009. A few comedies over the past couple months have made me smile, but I Love You, Man is the first that actually made me laugh. The movie's not perfect. The plot's hardly there, there are some logic holes in the premise, and it meanders during the middle section. But when you're truly laughing out loud at a movie, that doesn't seem to matter. The secret to the movie's success at comedy? Forgo easy and cheap physical gags (though there is the rare dog droppings gag), and instead have dialogue that is truly funny.

It's always wonderful when a movie is a joy to listen to as well as to watch, and the screenplay by director John Hamburg (Along Came Polly) and co-writer Larry Levin (Dr. Dolittle 2) has some very sharp comic wit on display. The characters here not only talk about interesting things, but say them in such a way that it's truly entertaining and funny just listening to them. The movie also has a lot of charm, thanks to a strong cast. The film stars two comics currently at the top of their game, Paul Rudd (fresh off the very smart and funny Role Models) and Jason Segel (from the even better Forgetting Sarah Marshall). The movie knows how to use them and their comedic styles to great effect. It's no surprise that the two have great chemistry together (Rudd had a small role in Sarah Marshall, as well). It's also no surprise that with a supporting cast that includes J.K. Simmons, Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg, Jon Favreau, and Jane Curtin that the two have very strong support. The movie, which is billed as a "bro-mantic comedy", can best be described as a romantic comedy built around male bonding. All the cliches and elements of standard romantic comedies are there, but they are turned on their head by the dialogue and the absurdness of the humor.

Rudd plays Peter Klaven, real estate agent and all around nice guy who, after proposing to his girlfriend of eight months, Zooey (Rashida Jones), is shocked to discover that he has no guy friends, and no one to act as his Best Man at the wedding. Peter's the kind of guy who's always been more comfortable around women, and who's idea of a perfect evening is sipping wine with the woman he loves and watching a chick flick. Peter seems to be pretty close with his father (J.K. Simmons) and younger brother (Andy Samberg), but oddly, they are never once considered. (Hence, the logic holes I mentioned earlier.) Desperate to find a best friend, Peter begins to go on a series of "Man Dates" to find the right guy for the job. After a string of disasters, he meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) at an open house Peter is holding in an attempt to sell Lou Ferrigno's mansion. (And yes, Ferrigno does turn up as himself in a very funny small role.) Sydney is not afraid to speak his mind, has a way of understanding the nature of men and how and why they act, and spends most of his time in his "Man Cave" - a shrine to manhood that's attached to his house. The two bond over music by classic rock group Rush, and are soon spending as much time as possible with each other, which does not sit well with Zooey, who starts to feel ignored.

If there is a fault to be found here, it's obviously that the plot is shallow, and exists simply as an excuse for the two lead actors to play off of each other as often as possible. Fortunately, this is where I Love You, Man excels. Peter is the kind of nice guy who tries to be cool and fun, but usually winds up making the situation worse for himself. He blurts out strange nicknames to call his new friend, or says expressions that don't even make any sense. Rudd has a lot of fun with the character's charmingly awkward tendencies, like the way every accent he tries to mimic ends up sounding like a cartoonish Irish Leprechaun. Sydney is the opposite of the button-down, straight arrow Peter, but we can see the connection. He's the free spirit that Peter secretly longs to be. Sydney, meanwhile, embraces his new friend because he's someone whom he can impart his wisdom onto. All of Sydney's other friends have moved on, started families, and generally don't have time for him anymore. The camaraderie that builds between the two is at the heart of the film, and as they go through the standard relationship formula usually reserved for romantic couples in movies (there's the misunderstanding, the break up, the last-minute reconciliation), I found myself caring about the characters.

The movie is also frequently charming. While the humor can be raunchy and driven by topics of sex and masturbation, it is never mean spirited or offensive. It's also sweet, observational, and frequently very smart. It's only during the middle section when the screenplay almost seems to run out of things to do or say, but fortunately there's usually a gag that works just around the corner to keep things moving. There are a lot of great little comic details, like the constant arguments that a married couple (Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly) who are friends with Peter and Zooey have throughout the film. But it is the combination of Rudd and Segel's natural chemistry, along with their likable characters, that drives the movie. They're obviously having a lot of fun up there on the screen, and it manages to carry through the screen into the audience.

I Love You, Man may come across as slight at times, but it manages to work in the way it combines male bonding with romantic comedy conventions. It's an easy-going film that should appeal to just about anyone, I would imagine. The cast and the script itself hit the right mark in nearly every scene. But really, all you need to know is that the movie delivers some big laughs. Considering some of the other comedy choices you have at your local theater right now, that can't be ignored.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

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