Adam Sandler has long been rumored to have the chops to carry a dramatic picture; and over the past 5 years Judd Apatow has solidified his reputation as a mastermind of comedy. On paper, having these two work together in Apatow’s first attempt at a dramedy seems like a match made in bromance heaven. This being said, the final product felt empty of a true connection between the characters and the moody melodrama that filled most of the 140 plus running time. Call me a cynic but I probably had too high of hopes for Funny People. Judd Apatow can’t make a classic every time around. Though enjoyable for the most part, I’m not sure the genre that Apatow created needs to be complicated with such emotional deepness.
Comic writers often find it hard to relate stand up acts to the big screen – much of the reason that Carrot Top will always be the punch line of jokes and never the star of a budgeted movie. There are plenty of laughs in Funny People but the best jokes are told on stage, much the way a comedians “concert” film would be shot.
Seth Rogen’s character Ira, gets the job opportunity of a lifetime by getting to write jokes for Sandler’s semi-autobiographical character, George Simmons. George, an aging super comedian who has been a marquee name in comedy for years, find out he has a serious blood disease that will most likely be his final act. George returns to his roots of stand-up in hopes to have a few good laughs before he goes. Ira tries to be the friend of the dying “sad clown” but ends up writing himself into the story which is George’s life. He goes beyond his hired reach and tries to help George deal with his missteps before life’s regrets become irreconcilable.
That’s the gist of the first half of the movie. Mix in a little bit of Jonah Hill dropping some relevantly humorous pop culture references and you have a sustainable first act.
The second half of the movie plays as if the Lifetime Channel attempted to do a romantic comedy. They are forced to address the serious content on which this movie was based. This (sad to say) is wasted time in an Apatow flick. Jonathan Demme, maybe. Steven Spielberg, sure. But Apatow? I’m going to say no. The set ups are bad, the jokes are absent, and if not for Eric Bana’s hilarious performance as George’s nemesis, it would have been totally forgettable.
Funny People is a far cry from the good natured witty humor of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. The belly laughs are missing, the quotable jokes are missing, and the happy spirit is gone. By the time the final laugh and fade away occurred, I was ready to stretch my legs and leave. Regardless, I believe the rumor will continue that Adam Sander has the chops to carry a drama – this film will not silence the critics, nor the worshipers.
Good review, Andy. I would add that the dramatic conflicts in Northern California are contrived and unbelievable, and Adam Sandler simply is not a serious actor, as his expressions and emotions are limited to hang-dog sorrow or juvenile glee.
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