Funny People (2009)

2.5

DRAMA/COMEDY
U.S. Release Date: 07/31/09
Running Length: 146 Minutes
MPAA Classification: R (Frequent Profanity, Sexual Situations, Brief Nudity)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza
Director: Judd Apatow
Screenplay: Judd Apatow
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Music: Michael Andrews, Jason Schwartzman
U.S. Distributor: Universal Pictures

Review by: Carter Moulton

08/08/09

Funny People is two and half-hours long. It’s longer than Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. There is no reason for a movie titled “Funny People” to be longer than one of the “Harry Potter” films. Funny People is basically two movies—unfortunately the first is much better than the second.

The film consists of two major storylines. The first focuses on a big-shot comedian named George Simmons, played by Adam Sandler. Simmons’ life seems to parallel Sandler’s in some aspects, although to what extent I’m not sure. He’s a forty-something with the habits of a college kid, inviting different fan-girls to his mansion every night and resisting any real sense of responsibility. Very early on in the film, Simmons is diagnosed with a rare form of blood disease, and, with no definite cure for the disease, he is prescribed some experimental medication.

Photo © Universal Pictures

With a storyline of this nature, both Sandler and writer/director Judd Apatow are given the task of balancing comedy and drama—more specifically with this script, juvenile potty-mouth and death. Sandler is up to the job, giving one of his more accomplished performances to date. His George Simmons is always hiding something, unsure of his lifestyle but too afraid to admit it—it’s subtle, but powerful stuff. Apatow has a more difficult time. The script is inevitably unfocused, changing tone too drastically and too often, but no one will deny the outstanding moments that peek through, both on the humorous and dramatic sides.

The second storyline tells of the up-and-coming comedian Ira Wright, played by the now ultra-slim Seth Rogen. As convincing as Sandler is in Funny People, it’s Rogen who gives the defining performance of the film. This rekindles my relationship with Rogen, and proves just how awful Observe and Report was. Ira lives in Los Angeles (as does Simmons) with his friends played by Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzmen—both in safe but sturdy roles. He works a day job at a meat-market and performs standup at a local comedy club during the night hours. Ira and George cross paths one night at the club, and Ira becomes a bigger part of George’s life than he, or anyone, could've imagined.

It sounds like an awesome premise, and it is, but that’s only the first half. The second half is mostly flat, a somewhat self-indulgent continuance of a brilliant beginning. Leslie Mann plays Laura, George’s “one that got away,” and with situations as they are, George tells Laura everything. Eric Bana is Clarke, Laura’s husband, an Australian lunatic who provides some chuckles but proves to be an unrealistic character. George begins to see Laura and attempts to win her back, and this is when the picture begins to drag along, big time. The film is like a train that putts along, passing every desirable destination until the only end in sight is a train wreck. Apatow leaves himself virtually no way to wrap things up neatly, and an unsatisfying conclusion is the result.

Given the misfires, the film is laugh-out-loud funny—look for James Taylor in an amusing cameo. Rogen is wonderful and is fun to root for. It’s just a film with no boundaries: Apatow even frees screen time to give Ray Romano a verbal beat down at the hands of Eminem. So, yes, the film is a slinky of sorts, and with some tighter editing and precise direction, this could have been Apatow’s best. Even if it is a bit disappointing, Funny People, thanks to some uproarious moments and lead performances, provides just enough to merit a viewing on the big screen.