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First there was the MTV reality show "Bromance" where Brody Jenner tried to find the newest addition to his entourage. Now there's the new movie, "I Love You, Man" where hottie Paul Rudd tries to find a best man for his wedding because he's bereft of boy buds.

Now that bromances have emerged as a film category to rival chick flicks, we're wondering when it stopped being OK to call two men hanging out together what it is -- friendship.

Women Wonder

It's not like we haven't witnessed brotherly love before, both on-screen and off. There was Batman and Robin, Jay and Silent Bob, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the two Coreys (who made a reality show about rekindling their failed friendship) and so many more.

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Hollywoods Hottest Bromances

    Brad Pitt and George Clooney
    They bro'd down sets of the "Ocean's" franchise and have been engaged in an affectionate prank war ever since. We like to think it's the sort of friendship that involves lots of semi-nude towel-snapping on the butt.

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    Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
    A bromance powerful enough that it begat an Oscar for the "Good Will Hunting" screenplay. It's not your fault, it's not your fault, it's not your fault ... that you're such great friends.

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    Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey
    What has four legs, three testicles, and an unshakable bond? This friendship.

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    Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio
    These two have been friends since childhood and used to be part of a notoriously crazy party posse. Now they just have the occasional slumber party in Hawaii and deny rumors that they like to share a sleeping bag.

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    Zach Braff and Donald Faison
    Best friends on "Scrubs," these two are apparently just as loathe to be separated in real life. We know, because we've read Zach's tear stained wreck of a diary.

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    Travis Barker and DJ AM
    These guys have hooked up with another famous BFF pair, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton. Which means they probably have shared a lot more than a love of music. (Read: crabs.)

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    Wilmer Valderamma and Ashton Kutcher
    The Man who was Fez has said of his former co-star, "I talk with him every day." Oh, boy.

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    John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell
    This is a friendship based on comedic chemistry ... that, curly hair, and moobs.

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    Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick
    They're JUST ROOMMATES YOU GUYS! Although we like to think that they occasionally have fights over hair product that end with Ed running up to roof of their apartment and screaming about how he's CHUCK BASS.

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    Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau
    These two have worked steadily together since their mutual debut in "Rudy" and have since shared the screen multiple times. And from the looks of it, a lot of Chicago-style deep dish.

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But today, everyone's a bit more fragile, with the economy and the world seemingly falling apart. With all that intensity in our faces every day, is using a term like "bromance" a way for dudes to downplay their emotions about their friends?

Mila in New York thinks using the term covers all the bases: if a guy says he's in a bromance with someone, he doesn't need to ever actually express any emotion to or about his friend.

"I think bromances are like man-crushes: the safe way for guys to say they care and respect each other instead of saying it aloud."

L.L. from Winnipeg thinks the term is a total cop-out.

"I think the term 'bromance' is just one more way guys can scream out 'I'm so not gay!' I think the term is lame. And really, so you have a good, close guy friend. Why would anyone turn that into a gay thing? It's silly!"

The Boy Bond

Even if women would never make fun of two dudes developing a deep bond, other dudes will. It's still not socially cool for guys to proclaim undying love and loyalty for their pals like it is for women, who constantly hug and, hell, even make out with their best friends on occasion.

Eric from Ohio, who once had a friend so close his girlfriend referred to him as Eric's "wife," doesn't like that men are still expected to suppress their support for their pals.

"I'm against the phrase simply because I feel what's described as bromance is the purest and least selfish form of relationship outside of, say, parenthood ... I genuinely think a good, platonic relationship between two men is something close to holy. The best ones don't come around too often, and when they end it's regrettable."

But for other guys, it's just not that deep. Poking fun at their friendships makes sense, because poking fun at things is part of what guys do when they're together.

"I personally don't see the big deal about playing it down. Bromance, though very real and very genuine, deserves to get fun poked at it," said Nico from California. "In addition to loyalty, the foundation of a close male friendship is based on sharing good times, and as many as possible. So why not turn it into a joke? It helps to deter people from being homophobic about two guys being really good friends."

Tell us: Do any of the men in your life have bromances?