I Love You, Man (2009)

Every rom-com beat is here, the meet-cute, the montage, the big fight, except the couple is two grown men who just want to play Rush songs together. The formula is creaky, and Rashida Jones gets stuck as the endlessly patient fiancée. The fun is Paul Rudd. His Peter is so uncomfortable around other guys that every sentence comes out wrong, and he tries goofy slang and nicknames that make the other person visibly wince. Jason Segel plays Sydney as a loose, honest guy who seems to run his whole life from a garage hangout, and their chemistry is easy and sweet. Watching them jam on Rush in that garage is the best scene in the movie. Andy Samberg and J. K. Simmons are reliably funny as Peter’s family. It made $92 million worldwide on a reported $40M. A 7.0 because it’s warm and funny about a grown man’s loneliness. $255.14 says you play air bass on your steering wheel at a red light this week and lock eyes with the driver next to you.

What works: Paul Rudd’s awkward charm and Jason Segel’s easy warmth make a great pair, and the friendship feels sweet and real.

What doesn’t: The plot follows the rom-com formula beat for beat, and Rashida Jones is wasted as a patient fiancée who mostly waits on the sidelines.

Who it’s for: Anyone who has tried to make a new friend as a grown-up and realized nobody hands out instructions.