D.C. MOVIE GUYS

Making Friends While in Los Angeles

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) a realtor introduces Zooey (Rashida Jones) of his dream to develop a vacant piece of property for businesses, restaurants and even suggested her friend could open up a second location.  Of course it all depends upon him selling Lou’s home that will finance this project and their wedding when Peter purposes to Zooey.  On the drive back home Zooey calls her best friend to inform (over speakerphone) her of the engagement to Peter.  Her friend of course congratulates Zooey by telling her how luck she is, especially after that trip to Mexico and how Peter satisfies her sexually.

During a family dinner, Peter informs his parents of their engagement when Zooey learns of Peter’s childhood which excluded certain kinds of friends.  Peter’s brother Robbie (Andy Samberg) of course had no trouble finding friends and eventually became one out of two best friends with their father, Oswald (J.K. Simmons).  Their father of course supports Robbie’s life style in a macho way.  Becoming evident during the course of planning his wedding, Peter begins searching for a best friend that will accompany him at the altar opposite of his bride and half a dozen brides’ maids.  Who will be Peter’s Best Man during their wedding?

Seeking help from Robbie, Peter focuses on a series of “man dates” only to be frustrated and disillusioned from the hilarious conclusion.  At the same time Peter fixates on selling Lou’s (some Hollywood celebrity) multi-million dollar mansion during an open house when he meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel).  Sydney bluntly explains to Peter that he was only there to mooch on the above average spread and hopefully find a divorcée to pass the afternoon with.  Dazed by Sydney’s candor and appreciation of the finger food, Sydney continues by cluing in Peter of the various groups wandering throughout the open house.  Eventually centering his attention on a couple with comical play-by-play movement.  Sydney and Peter trade business cards believing they will never see each other again.

Feeling jaded at the failure of receiving no bids on Lou’s mansion along with a stern call from Lou, Peter leaves a disjointed message with Sydney wondering if he would like to go out.  Sydney calls back which embarks on the courtship with Peter all while Zooey cheers him on.

Although the film approaches Judd Apatow’s (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up) inspiration, a small portion of the dialogue (comeback nicknames) from Peter tests his awkward relationship with same sex friends; the banter at times left the audience at a loss.  With an all-star cast (Sarah Burns, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, Anwar Sadat) and plenty of laughs throughout the movie, I walked from the theater among numerous new best friends.

MPAA: Rated R for pervasive language, including crude and sexual references.

Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars