BY ISAAC HAN

In print | Published March 26, 2009

For those of us who watch “Scrubs,” the term “bromance” is a very familiar one. For everyone else, a “bromance” can be best described as the close relationship between two straight males. In “Scrubs,” the relationship between J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison) is a friendship that veers humorously towards homoeroticism: these two “brothers” know more about each other than anybody else could ever hope to. The idea of the “bromance” has permeated pop culture in recent years and has culminated in a new film hailing from the Judd Apatow school of comedy, the Jon Hamburg-directed “I Love You, Man.” The film follows a newly engaged real estate agent, Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), who has no male friend to serve as his best man and is forced to seek out a best-man worthy bro.

The humor centers on the way that Peter’s search for a best man is reminiscent of both the straight and gay dating scene. His search for a friend is only several shades away from dating, as he looks to his family and online friend-finder sites to find a male friend. The nervousness and uncertainty with which Peter approaches each outing with a new potential friend is reminiscent of that which accompanies a first date, and when he finally meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), the two become best friends by going on a series of “man dates.”

The execution of the premise is impressive, which is largely due to the writing. The humor of the movie comes off very subtly; the jokes are not imposed on the audience like they would be in a Will Ferrell movie. Rather, the film charms with funny and engaging dialogue. A running gag in which Peter can’t quite get the idea of nicknaming down is a good example of unimposing humor. Every time the two best friends hang out, Peter awkwardly tries to give Sydney nicknames that fail in entertaining ways, such as by calling him lame names such as Jobin. The film also manages to make both barf and farting seem genuinely humorous as opposed to vulgar, a feat of good comedy writing.

The film’s dialogue is instantly funny and well written. The moments in which Peter talks about his relationship with Sydney are humorously similar to how guys would talk about a girlfriend. For example, when Sydney calls him back for the first time, Peter is jubilant, dropping everything that he is doing only to suffer an attack of nerves when he answers the phone. After getting his first “man date,” he celebrates with his fiancé, Zooey (Rashida Jones) and her girlfriends. The timing of the jokes is also flawless. In the same scene Hailey (Sarah Burns), one of Zooey’s friends, mentions with a smirk that not only is she still single, but she’s the only one in the room who can’t get a man.

Paul Rudd gives a brilliant performance. Peter really comes to life in the movie, leaving the audience sympathetic to his plight and character. This sympathy goes a long way, carrying the jokes and making Peter a relatable human being. The jokes work because they are backed with solid acting. It is easy to fall in love with these characters and understand the jokes through their flaws. In one scene, Sydney refuses to pick up his dog’s poop and then goes ballistic in order to scare off a guy who complains about it. In another scene, Sydney teaches Peter the value of letting base emotions take over with the line, “Society tells us we’re civilized but the truth is we are animals. Sometimes we just have to let it out. Try it.” When Peter responds with a pathetic effort, Sydney replies “Good. Now gently remove your tampon and try again.” This sarcastic humor is typical of Sydney’s character and nicely executed by Segel, who makes the scene a laugh-out-loud moment.

“I Love You, Man” has the charm of both a classic romantic comedy and buddy movie. It is yet another example of the growing prevalence of “bromance” in pop culture, perhaps as a response to a world where platonic relationships are slowly taking the back seat. In a world where many are insecure about finding a soul mate, movies and TV shows about “bromance” remind us that there is a great value to just hanging out with a good friend who will always be there for you.

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