Funny People
While he continues to produce ridiculous films like “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express”- and “Year One”- under a production company that’s come to rival Spielberg’s unparalleled history as a producer, Judd Apatow has saved his riskier work for his own directing projects. 2005’s “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” was an instant classic in theatres and on DVD alike; and while 2007’s “Knocked Up” was a bigger hit- and less of a guilty pleasure for critics- it started a disturbing trend in Apatow’s work of going longer with even the most simple story. But home viewing has been kind to that film- it’s still a bit long, but the film has held up beautifully.
With “Funny People,” Apatow really stretches audience good-will with a sometimes-punishing 140-plus running time. Geeze, it’s called an editing bay Judd. Go to it, learn to love it.
The joke is on the naysayers this time around. Apatow could’ve tightened things up a bit, but stars Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan play it straight and straight-up funny as an unlikely dream team. Sandler is George Simmons, a mega comedy star with a history of womanizing and a reason to self-destruct. He’s just been informed he has a rare form of leukemia- his doctor’s are trying experimental medicines, but aren’t very hopeful. An early act at a comedy club shows his go-for-broke comedy coming off as a cruel, albeit cruelly funny, shock for the crowd.
It’s a hard act to follow for struggling stand up and comedy writer Ira (Rogan)- his own material isn’t really working, but when he comments on George’s set, he strikes a nerve, and makes an impression. George takes Ira on as a writer and assistant, and a confidant as to his predicament. The arrangement makes Ira’s roommates- including a fellow struggling comedy writer (Jonah Hill) and the star of a lame sitcom called “Yo, Teach” (Jason Schwartzman, who also wrote some of the music)- jealous, but as he’s about to find out, he’s not exactly in a position to be holier-than-thou with them.
When “Funny People” is funny, it’s really damn funny. Seriously. But Apatow is looking for more than just laughs. Sandler’s Simmons is looking at a life-changing experience, but the question is, will it change him? It certainly changes things with his former fiancee Laura (Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann), who has a rough time dealing with her adulteress Aussie husband (Eric Bana, in a hilarious change-of-pace role), but loves her two daughters (who are also her real-life daughters with Apatow, who were also in “Knocked Up”) enough to feel some real dilemma about her lingering feelings for George. Mann is a knockout in the role, and her scenes with Sandler have a genuine chemistry that floors you with funny and feeling.
Just as successful is the chemistry between Sandler and Rogan. They weather the storm of the film’s overlength and deliver fierce and funny performances. Sandler hasn’t been this vulnerable since “Punch-Drunk Love,” using humor to mask insecurities that come to light during his near-death experience. You already know from the trailers that things suddenly look hopeful for George, but Apatow always keeps us and the characters wondering as to what will happen in the end. That’s one of the great things about his comedies- you never really know what’ll happen until it happens. “Funny People” is no wonder, even if you might wish it gets there a little faster than it does.
