Q&A: Paul Rudd and Jason Segel

Jason Segel and Paul Rudd in "I Love You, Man" (Credit: Scott Garfield/DreamWorks)

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Ask Jason Segel and Paul Rudd why they work so well together onscreen and the actors will gush on the earnest, legitimate reasons (trust, respect, etc.) they've clicked in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Knocked Up" and the new, "I Love You, Man." For most viewers, though, there's one simple, undeniable thing that matters about these guys: They just make a freaking hilarious team.

That's never been more evident than in the consistently laugh-out-loud "I Love You, Man." In the film, opening March 20, Rudd plays Peter, a real estate agent with a fiancé (Rashida Jones) but no male friends to fill out his wedding party. So he embarks on a man date-filled search to find a BFF and stumbles into a bromance with Sydney (Segel), who teaches Peter how to loosen up and be more aggressive—and makes Peter's better half jealous in the process.

The duo talked to Metromix about the weirdness of male relationships, their status as "comedy legends" and useful rules for your own bromance.

Jason, what's it like knowing that, thanks to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," everyone you meet for the rest of your life has seen you naked?
Jason Segel: I actually like it. It's all out in the open. I've already weeded out women who are looking for guys with a good body. It sort of works in my favor to some extent.

Does it make you think, "Why bother getting dressed at all?"?
JS: I would be scared of jail.

Why?
Paul Rudd: Because everyone knows plenty of inmates have seen "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

JS: [And how do you think you're going to fare] if you're naked in jail?

"I Love You, Man" revolves around the weirdness of male relationships. How do you assess that weirdness?
JS: You know what's weird is like, for example, the topic of sex. I think this whole "locker room talk" thing is a myth. I think that's women's perception of what men are like.

PR: I think so.

JS: I've been in locker rooms; I've been around dudes. I'm sure there's guys [who do this], but I've never been friends with the guys who are like, (in deep voice) "Dude, I was with this chick last night..." You eavesdrop on girl conversations and they will say the most graphic details. I've met friends of girls who I've dated, and they'll be like, "I know about you, Mr. Kinky Pants!"

PR: Mr. "Right Ball Hangs Lower Than His Left One." It is so true. Guys don't really...

Then what's a truth about men that women should know?
PR: I can only speak for Jason, and this will come as no shock: We don't really fit that kind of generic macho male stereotype.

JS: No. I think that men are less reticent to commitment than women think. I think men get kind of excited about it and then women start acting a little weird.

PR: That might just be Jason.

JS: I'm just desperately looking for a girlfriend.

Complete this analogy: Paul Rudd is to Jason Segel as...
JS: As Danny DeVito is to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

PR: I think so. I think you gotta go back to the cover of "Twins."

What are, say, gym activities that you'd consider a "do," a "don't," and a "maybe" in a bromance?
JS: My "don't" would be homosexual sex in the sauna.

PR: My don't would be don't let your buddy be the second guy to climb the rope... I was thinking of like grade school gym class.

JS: What kind of men are going to an elementary school gym class, you pervert?

PR: What's wrong with going to an elementary school gym class and climbing a rope? I think I misunderstood the question.

Same question for going to restaurants together.
JS: I don't think there's any "nos" on restaurants. Maybe like a French bistro. But even then, I feel like we'd have a good time at a French bistro.

PR: Yeah, I think so too.

JS: Do: Definitely a steakhouse.

PR: Absolutely.

JS: That's a great, great guy outing.

PR: What's a maybe? Japanese food?

JS: Oh, like a vegan joint. You ain't going to catch Jason Segel at no vegan joint, Jack!

PR: A don't would probably be Sal's Testicle Emporium. [pause] I can't tell, was that funny?

JS: Yeah, Sal's Testicle Emporium. It was great.

What goes through your head when you see yourselves on the Vanity Fair cover with the headline "Comedy's New Legends"?
JS: I think that "Comedy's New Legends" is a real overstatement. I've done one successful movie.

PR: I see that and go, "And the backlash continues."

What would be a more appropriate label?
PR: "Comedy's Out-of-Shape Guys."

JS: Yeah! Or, "Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and Who?" I would have enjoyed that as the headline.

PR: I look at that and just go, "I really got lucky in getting cast in the Tom Ford role."

JS: This guy got to wear a suit. I had to wear a silk bodystocking.

Jason, you've said George Clooney is the man you could never be. What's a piece of advice that you could give him?
PR: I don't think you give advice to George Clooney. You just take advice.

There must be something you guys know that he doesn't know.
JS: I mean, like, maybe how to meet girls on Craigslist.

PR: I bet he doesn't know how to do that.

Find showtimes for "I Love You, Man."