REVIEW: Funny People (2009)
Funny People
Rated: R
Runtime: 146 minutes
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen
My rating: 3 stars
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Funny People is a movie about nothing. Well, there is a plot and some story, but, really, this isn’t a typical Judd Apatow production.
There isn’t the humor of 40 Year Old Virgin or the semi-serious, heartfelt tone of Knocked Up here. There isn’t escapism; there isn’t a lot of funny. This is just a movie about people – funny people who have to address serious, life situations.
It is a movie about regrets, triumphs, and what, if anything, happens to people when they face death. It’s not a funny subject.
But that’s the premise of Funny People.
George Simmons (Adam Sandler), a legendary comedian, is diagnosed with a form of Leukemia to start the film. He employs struggling stand-up comedian Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) as his personal assistant. Part of his duties include talking to Simmons as he falls asleep, writing jokes and keeping the illness a secret from friends and family.
They’re professional relationship develops into a close friendship, and Ira learns that Simmons nearly married his only true love, Laura (Leslie Mann). Simmons admits in his act that she was the one that got away.
So the love interest is established, and I had some incentive to care about what happened to Simmons.
The film never really ventured that direction, however. Instead it stayed focused on Simmons and his efforts to battle his life, disease and rediscover his purpose.
He discovers the emptiness that accompanies fame.
Funny People has a deeper message than its marketing suggests. I expected a good comedy with heart. I didn’t expect a decent drama with humor.
The film feels like a confession. Apatow usually masks his message with an outrageous comedy. In this, he delves into a different genre. He balances on the line between gripping the audience and losing them.
Sometimes he falters in the storytelling and we’re miffed. I wanted him to stick to his point, but I felt he reverted to crude jokes too often. It sullied important scenes and turned me off to the point of the movie.
Something was missing from Funny People. I sat wondering why certain scenes worked and why some just didn’t seem to fit. I go back to the film’s distinct balance issue.
It pulls us in with humor, tries to get us to care about Simmons, but I just didn’t. Sandler doesn’t carry the drama the way it needed. He’s great with the humor, but without dramatic actors around him, his serious scenes don’t work.
Apatow seems to work with it, turning the movie into one serious scene after another for the final hour of this 2 hour, 26 minute film. But Sandler flops and fails to connect with the serious side of his character. It brings the movie down.
I’m mixed in this review if you haven’t noticed. I want to say I liked it, but I just don’t know. And I don’t know if I want to return to try it again.
My recommendation: Go, but know that you’re watching a drama, not a Sandler film. Go and don’t expect 40 Year Old Virgin. Go and expect Puch Drunk Love without much romance. Go and expect Reign Over Me, but not nearly as good. Three stars.
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Where it's playing:
Canton/PotsdamSHOWTIMES
Watertown SHOWTIMES
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