Movie Review

Funny People

Big Questions: Can writer/director Judd Apatow continue his hot streak after the great "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year Old Virgin," in addition to producing some of the best comedies in the past three years? Will this attempt by Adam Sandler to take on more serious material be greeted with a better reception than some of his past serio-comic tales? Will sitting through a 2 hour and 20 minute serio-comedy be too much?

Plot: Sandler plays George Simmons, a movie star coming from humble beginnings as a stand-up comic. He's been very successful in career but not so in life. He's 40, miserable, has no close friend, his cheating ways have cost him his one love, Laura (Leslie Mann), and on top of all that he's just been diagnosed with a type of leukemia. Deciding to stay away from the fakeness of Hollywood, he instead goes back to his roots at the stand-up clubs, telling some jokes but dealing with considerably darker material than he's generally known for doing. One of the up-and-comers at the club is Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), a deli counter clerk with big dreams of being the next Seinfeld. George sees his act and hires him to help him write some jokes. The two become close. George even confides in him the secret of his terminal illness. Ira learns a thing or two about confidence and working in the big leagues of stand-up comedy and George learns about love, friendship, and what makes life most rewarding. One of those things happens to be trying to get back Laura, who is now married to an Aussie businessman (Eric Bana).

The Verdict: Like "Knocked Up," this new Apatow flick is a little too long but what keeps it so good is the balancing of hilarious comedy with sincerity. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud. Whether these guys are riffing on Myspace, Harry Potter, farts, penis, vagina, the similarities between guys and serial killers, or, in the funniest moment of the year by far, a Swedish doctor, the jokes are side-splittingly hilarious and they come at you fast and plentiful. Some funny tongue and cheek stuff is thrown in. Sandler's character plays roles like a baby and a merman, both reminders of Sandler's early work, and Rogen's more slimmed-down figure is a big joke topic. Old video is a nice touch too. One where a young Sandler makes prank phone calls is a highlight. The movie succeeds in showing comedy as not just an outlet but a communal thing these guys share, and it all goes well with the more somber moments where George begins to reassess life and love, regrets the mistakes and yearns for his youth, and discovers the value of friendship while Ira matures from passive assistant to full-fledged comic.

This is Sandler's best attempt at playing a character other than himself. He's effective not just in tossing off one-liners but also getting beneath the self-pity, vulnerability and sarcasm to reveal a man who's reached a crossroad in life for the very first time. Rogen is more the man-child here, crudely knocking off penis jokes while being the good friend and shoulder to cry on. Leslie Mann is an adorable comic actress, especially when she makes fun of Bana's heavy Aussie accent. And Bana is terrifically funny, as are the always dependable Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman, as Ira's two roommates, one a comic and the other the star of an awful TV sitcom. Cameo appearances are made by Norm McDonald, Dave Attell, Sarah Silverman, and in a verbal altercation you'll only see here, Ray Romano vs. Eminem. There just aren't enough good things to say about "Funny People." It's the funniest movie of the year, and yes I saw "Bruno" and "The Hangover." Go see it and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Laugh your ass off and also get your heart touched at the same time. What else could you want from a Judd Apatow flick?

Craig's Grade: A-

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%