Funny People Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 08.03.2009

Is Apatow’s third film another victory, or a drawn out mess?

Adam Sandler: George Simmons
Seth Rogen: Ira Wright
Leslie Mann: Laura
Eric Bana: Clarke
Jonah Hill: Leo Koenig
Jason Schwartzman: Mark Taylor Jackson
Aubrey Plaza: Daisy
RZA: Chuck
Written and Directed By: Judd Apatow
Release Date: July 31, 2009
Running Time: 146 minutes







Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality.

Whenever I meet celebrities, getting their autograph is not my top priority. As a kid that was an important goal, but as I grew older I began to feel that having an autograph was not that special. I have always felt that simply shaking their hand and meeting them was sufficient. Whether or not I could brag to friends with a picture or autograph meant nothing in the long run. All I wanted to do was treat them like they were normal human beings, because after all, celebrities are people too. I thought about this as I watched Funny People. Many compelling scenes display this relationship with fans and casual passerbies who request a picture. Although they receive constant attention, celebrities need a friend as much as anyone. Funny People allows you to understand them more, and understand Adam Sandler especially.

In the past few years Judd Apatow’s name has been attached to many high grossing comedies, but this is only his third feature film as a director, following the brilliance of The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Apatow dazzles us again with Funny People, a moving glimpse into the pain, the pleasure, the loneliness, and the chaos of a comic. It continues Apatow’s unbeatable streak as a filmmaker. For Adam Sandler, it reveals a side of him to viewers that was long overdue. Funny People represents the type of comedy that lasts through the years, and never loses its energy or profundity. It is a breath of fresh air for blockbusters in the midst of summer filled with so many disappointing entries.

The story follows George Simmons (Adam Sandler), a veteran comedian and popular actor, who learns the he suffers a rare terminal blood condition that is untreatable. He takes piles of experimental drugs, but the doctor makes it clear that those pills only work for 8% of the people who take them. This prompts George to re-enter the stand-up comedy circuit. In the meantime, Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) is an aspiring stand-up comic who works at a deli. He has yet to find his stride, while his two roommates enjoy moderate to mainstream success. Leo (Jonah Hill) seems to obtain a better reaction from audiences, while Mark (Jason Schwartzman) is busy on a hit television show. One night, fate has Ira and George performing at the same venue. George takes notice to Ira’s talent, and requests that he writes some jokes for him and be his assistant. As George tries to make up lost ground in what could be the last moments of his life, he becomes friends with Ira, and tries connecting with a former love named Laura (Leslie Mann). But when George receives some unsuspecting updates from his doctor, everything changes.

Viewers probably appreciated the "idea" of Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler collaborating for a comedy film rather than fully embracing what the finished product would ultimately be. It is worth noting that the two did stand-up together many years ago, and were also roommates. Despite Sandler’s bizarre but satisfactory turn in Punch Drunk Love, I do not think many people realize what it means for him to be directed by Judd Apatow. The aim was not to have Sandler make you laugh in every scene like most of his mainstream films strove to do. This is a drama with humorous elements intermingled, or a dramedy as it has been labeled. It was also not imperative to cut the running time down so as to appease the impatient members of the audience. Funny People is a slice of life. Calling it an ordinary movie almost seems like a disservice.

The characters of George Simmons and Ira Wright do indeed mirror the lives of Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler. They have to, otherwise how could we get jokes bashing Rogen for losing so much weight? Jonah Hill’s Leo says “No one laughs at a physically fit man.” How closely George Simmons applies to Sandler we will never fully know, but the similarities are obvious. This is easily Sandler’s finest turn as an actor to date, mainly because it is more accessible than Punch Drunk Love. His attempts for laughter are organic and instinctive instead of forced and desperate. Sandler’s portrayal of Simmons shows the world what it would be like to live that lifestyle day in and day out. Many actors and comics who might not be funny at all in movies or stand-up, are probably hilarious behind the scenes, at home, or in a restaurant. The jokes in Funny People have that sort of innate vibe to them.

Much of the humor in Funny People is intended to be awkward, uncomfortable, and poorly executed. Take Simmons’ introduction of darker humor in an early stand-up routine. It is not very funny, and it is not supposed to be. The same goes for Ira Wright’s early stand-up performances. These sequences display the changes and progression of the sets they create depending on what the mood of the comic is, and how they have honed their style. Apatow does a fine job in transitioning between the jokes and the drama. After all, George has a terminal illness, and this film shows that the knowledge of that illness does not mean the character will suddenly “see the light” or “turn over a new leaf.” It scares him, and he reacts with cruel comments, anger, and jarring mood swings. This does not make him a bad person necessarily. It just means he is human.

Following the disastrous Observe and Report, it is nice to see Seth Rogen returning to familiar territory. His performance is right on par with Sandler’s. Ira Wright is a young man trying to find his groove. Many sequences involving Ira ring true. When Simmons asks Ira if he wants to bring a pair of girls back to his place, he of course replies yes. Unfortunately the girls do not tag along for Ira. He swims uncomfortably in the pool with one of the girls, while George “closes the deal” with the other. After Ira’s date explains that nothing will happen between them because she has a boyfriend, George arrives to escort the lady home, and in one of the funniest sex scenes in many years, it turns that Ira’s date only had eyes for George. Another very accurate sub-plot dealt with a fellow stand-up woman comic whom Ira has interest in. His roommate Mark gives him 10 days to make a move. Rogen delivers a touching depiction of an up and coming comedian, and his chemistry with Sandler is superb.

Ira’s roommates consist of Jonah Hill as Leo Koenig and Jason Schwartzman as Mark Taylor Jackson. Hill has no problem supplying some of the more memorably hysterical moments. His Youtube kitten video is absolutely outstanding. Schwartzman is that friend you love to hate. He stars in a television show called “Yo Teach”, which is frighteningly similar to a number of shows in the past. He has no trouble getting girls, whereas Ira does for sure. His success has certainly gone to his head, but it makes an intriguing and realistic dynamic between the trio. One of Apatow’s regulars, his wife Leslie Mann, appears as George’s former girlfriend Laura. She has never looked hotter, and is increasingly convincing and funny as the storyline develops. Eric Bana is her husband, and initially, Bana’s villainous turn seems to be a little over the top, but since he is an arrogant businessman, it is not all that exaggerated in my opinion. Also remember the name of Aubrey Plaza, as she is wonderful as Daisy.

We spend too much time worrying about the running time these days. Many of the reviews and comments from bloggers cite the inevitable complaints for films over 2 hours that Funny People is too lengthy. It’s as if a trigger engages in their brain that once the flick reaches the two-hour mark, it will almost assuredly be too long. Odd that no one makes this complaint for films under 2 hours, when in fact many films under that time are definitely too long. When was it written that 120 minutes was the break off point for films? I had no trouble watching every second of Funny People, and would have gladly sat there for more. Additionally, many have said that this is two separate movies because of the situation with Laura gaining ground towards the end. It’s not like she wasn’t in the film from the start. George’s relationship with Laura grew through the natural course of his life. Shortening this film would have eliminated some of those enlightening moments with George, Ira, and Laura, moments that reveal more layers to the characters, and provided more mature comedy to the picture overall.

Judd Apatow balances the seriousness and the laughter like a master craftsman in Funny People. He elicits a performance from his star that only a skilled director could. He is not afraid to challenge the audience, and present varying types of emotions that might not meld smoothly. The mood of Funny People is at times much more grim and downbeat than I am sure many anticipated, but to say rays of hope are not included, or that it is overly depressing, is simply untrue. Every line if dialogue is methodically constructed, whether it includes profanity or tears. Apatow also does not rely on his stars to carry the film. All the supporting performances contribute a great deal towards the final effect. Apatow is patient with the running time because he does not want to sacrifice crucial character development for a shorter film. If Funny People has any flaws, it would be that it ended on a note that had me thinking too much of I Love You, Man, but that is forgivable.

Funny People is a gem of an experience that has a lot of priceless cameos that will have the viewers talking and whispering to each other. Most these people would have to be Sandler’s buddies or former co-stars in real life. Strangely enough though, the one person you would expect to see in a Sandler film, a guy who has been in almost every one of his movies, never appears. I think this was an Apatow decision, a wise one I might add. The best scene occurs during a celebration for George Simmons. I will not spoil the identity of the person who makes an appearance, even though many sites have, but I will say that Ray Romano is involved, and it was magnificent. I could also ramble on for another paragraph on the brilliance of Simmons’ phony films. I wonder how the Wayan brothers felt about “Re-Do.”

The 411: Funny People is the film from Adam Sandler that I have been waiting for. It should remind people that he can offer more than the throw away comedies he usually delivers. Judd Apatow’s third directorial effort is another glorious achievement from a man who knows exactly how to create a comedy that will last through the years. The performances are terrific from Sandler, Rogen, Schwartzman, and the rest of the cast. The jokes are fantastic, and the drama is heartfelt and genuine. Funny People is one of the best comedies of the year.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]