Funny People
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann,Director: Judd Apatow
Year of Release: 2009
I give a lot of movies a 3 cup (out of 5) review because a lot of movies are just okay. Not great, not bad, just okay. Funny People follows in that tradition. It’s just okay. Judd Apatow is everywhere these days, mostly writing. And he has been known mostly for raunchy, “guy” humor. Funny People is his third turn at directing and he turns toward more dramatic territory than the more comedic 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. And the jokes are noticeably a lot less raunchy and “guy” oriented. There is still a lot of “guy” humor, just not as much. And while this movie has heart, it’s not really enough to make it a winner.
Adam Sandler does a good job basically playing himself as a burnt-out comedian, but he never warms up and becomes anyone you’re sympathetic for. Seth Rogen is good as his assistant but I didn’t think the connection between the two characters was very natural. it felt rather forced. The stand up routines were basically good but nothing outrageous. A much better film along similar lines is the Tom Hanks movie Punchline with Sally Field. And a much better Apatow film is still 40 Year Old Virgin.
