Will Paul Rudd Ruin Heretofore Unimpeachable Charm Streak By Aligning Self With Owen Wilson?

Paul Rudd, and much of the Judd Apatow crew for that matter, have done the unimaginable. Skated by on the same, charms and shtick for a good 18 months now (at least) and somehow have avoided to to receive any major collective cultural backlash.

Even when Rudd has hit a critical dud (“Role Models”) he has remained unscathed and still supremely likable. But is the limitless charm offensive going to finally hit a snag when it meets the once-endearing, now poisonous Owen Wilson?

Both Rudd and Wilson are in talks to join Reese Witherspoon in a James L. Brooks-directed and untitled romantic comedy for Columbia Pictures according to Variety. Multi-hyphenate Brooks, is naturally, writing, producing and helming the picture which centers on a love triangle between the three aforementioned stars. Rudd will evidently play a white collar executive, Wilson will play a professional baseball player and both of them are vying for Witherspoon’s affections.

The rest of the logline is being kept purposely vague and the working title of the film is “How Do You Know?” Will Rudd finally jump the shark with appearing in a film with Owen “I recycle my performances” Wilson who’s recent phoned-in CV (“Marley and Me,” “Drillbit Taylor,” “You Me and Dupree,” “Night At the Museum”) is becoming increasingly worse and worse?

Perhaps the only one with the power to save this thing is James L.Brooks whose tears and laughs comedy influenced these guys and the Apatow troupe in the first place. Then again, the last film Brooks wrote and directed was “Spanglish,” an inoffensive comedy meant for cable-flipping viewing only (and if you can sit through it until the end you win a prize which is the glutton for mediocre punishment).