The best Judd Apatow movie not made by Judd Apatow. You couldn’t be blamed for making that mistake, though, considering the leads (Rudd and Segel), subject matter (buddy comedy), and male viewpoint (“we don’t really want to grow up”). Peter Klaven’s an L.A. real-estate agent trying to move the Lou “Hulk” Ferrigno mansion so that he can pay for his upcoming wedding to the lovely Zooey. Only one problem: he’s always been a “girlfriend” kind of guy, and he’s not close to his much-younger brother Robbie, so there’s no apparent best man to stand up for him.
While Peter endures a painful series of “man dates,” the schlumpy, bearlike-yet-charming bachelor Sydney stumbles into his life and the two forge a friendship. But is the brutally-honest Sydney too much for the straight-laced Peter? The direction here isn’t the most deft, and the third act stumbles into sentiment. However, excellent casting and a sharp script (with more jokes hitting than missing) make this a laugh-out-loud good time. Rudd, usually a smart-ass in his Apatow appearances, is at his best here in his first major lead role. Good-looking yet approachable (it’s hard to believe he’ll be 40 years old in April), he finds the humanness his character needs not to be labeled “wimp.” He’s ably supported by Segel, the lovely Jones (daughter of Peggy Lipton and Quincy Jones), and the hilarious Favreau in particular. A fun time.