• Howick and Botany Times
FUNNY PEOPLE. Rated: R16: Contains office language, sexual material and other content that may offend. Running time: 146 mins. Times rating:
Funny People is the third film from director Judd Apatow, after The 40-year-old Virgin (2005) and Knocked Up (2007).
But where those films were straight-on comedies with a heart, Funny People is being billed as Apatow’s first ‘serious’ movie.
It tells the story of George Simmons (Adam Sandler), a world famous movie star whose box office hits include ‘Re-Do’, ‘My Best Friend is a Robot’ and ‘Merman’.
When he’s diagnosed with a fatal blood disorder, he decides to take stock in his life and figure out where it all went wrong. Helping him along the way is Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), an aspiring stand-up comedian who becomes his assistant, confidante and only friend. As they stare into the abyss, they find that humour can still be found even in life’s darkest places.
For the first 90 minutes, Funny People is right on the money. Sandler is well cast as George Simmons, who goes back to his stand-up roots to remember why he became a comedian in the first place. But after George’s condition changes, Funny People loses its focus – and purpose.
The last hour goes on forever as George tries to win back his old girlfriend (Leslie Mann), who’s married to an unfaithful husband (Eric Bana). Rather than add another layer to the film, the story meanders as George goes back to his old self-absorbed ways.
Two and a half hours is too long for almost any comedy, but especially a semi-comedy, semi-soap opera comedy with long gaps between laughs. After 90 minutes, the film reaches what could have been a suitable ending. Then, suddenly, a second film starts to roll. It’s all about George’s mistake in cheating on ‘the one’ 12 years ago, and an attempt to win her back.
Funny People is a superbly acted, frequently hilarious and occasionally moving comedy drama in which Apatow gives old pal Sandler a deep yet still funny script. While the movie feels longer than necessary, this unusually authentic depiction of show business lets Sandler, the actor, go places he’s never been before.
Funny People has the same heart, naughty language and adult situations, as Apatow’s previous releases. But this film mines its comedy from a much darker area. Still funny, it shows a new side of Apatow and his gang of actors.
He’s growing and evolving and where he’ll take his next project is anyone’s guess. No matter what he tackles, it’s all but guaranteed to entertain.
– Scotty Moorhead
