Funny People
Review - Bobby Belt for The Mungles on Movies
Funny People is the latest effort from Writer/Director Judd
Apatow. He's the genius behind movies Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin, as
well as brilliant Television shows Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks.
Funny People is a little bit different from anything Apatow
has ever written or directed. It takes a look at the life of George Simmons
(Adam Sandler) who is one of the biggest working comedic actors in Hollywood, and he has
just learned that he has a very rare form of Leukemia. George, completely
thrown off, doesn't quite know how to take the news and begins to appear at
comedy clubs and returns to his standup comedy roots.
Through his return, he meets Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) a
struggling standup comedian who lives with his two friends (Jonah Hill and
Jason Schwartzman) that have found success in the comedy world.
George is one of Ira's idols and he hires Ira to write him
some jokes. Through that venture, he eventually becomes George's assistant.
George, unhappy in what he's become and what he's done in
his past, reaches out and tries to re-connect with lost love Laura (Leslie
Mann)
Funny People's storyline is not ground breaking...The man
who only through dying truly begins to "live". We've all seen that.
We get that. That's not a legitimate criticism of the film. Judd Apatow has
never been a guy who creates original storylines. His genius comes from going
at a subject we've all seen a thousand times and still being able to milk
something new out of it.
It's hilarious (Especially the standup scenes) and real at
times, but it feels so contrived and recycled at points as well...especially
the second half of the movie. My biggest gripe with the film is with the
ending. Apatow hit a wall when he got to the final 20 minutes or so and just
seemed to shrug his shoulders, throw his hands in the air and say "Oh
well". It's feels so rushed and unsatisfying in the end.
Outside of that, the movie is incredibly funny and delivers
a few hard hitting, if a bit unpolished, dramatic scenes. The acting is good
all across the board, especially Seth Rogen who does his best work in this
film. The biggest problem I had with any of the characters was Laura's husband
Clarke (Eric Bana) who was way over the top for my liking. He's the kind of
character that you will find hysterical, or annoying.
I think the biggest hurdle that Apatow will encounter with
his audience here is that he's developed a reputation of creating movies that
rely heavily on laughter, and hit you with heart under the surface. This movie
relies on the dramatic aspects just as much as the comedy and it may disappoint
people who came looking for what they've always gotten from an Apatow film.
It's Judd's bravest and riskiest attempt yet, but it's also
a bit disappointing.
Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and
some sexuality. This is possibly his most vulgar film to date, so it's not
something you'd want to bring the kids to.
Overall, I'd give it a 4 out of 5...pretty good movie that
had the potential to be great. If Judd were to make a similar film in 5 years
when he's grown a bit more as a film maker, I'm sure it would be a 5 out of 5.
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