Movie review: Funny People

Sep 9 2009 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

‘FUNNY People’ is the latest comedy from the supremely talented director Judd Apatow. It stars Adam Sandler as stand-up comedian George Simmons.

George is diagnosed with an untreatable blood disorder and told he has very little time to live. While ill, he meets a struggling new comedian, Ira Wright (played by Seth Rogen), and the two become friends.

When George is told that his illness has cleared up, he tries to reunite with old flame Laura (Leslie Mann), much to the annoyance of her Australian husband Clarke (Eric Bana).

I have been a huge fan of Apatow’s previous work (‘Knocked Up,’ ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’). Full of cracking lines, jokes, crude humour, memorable characters and heart, they have been a joy to watch.

‘Funny People’ isn’t as funny but is another good edition to Apatow’s resume. This film seems to be a more personal, mature outing for him. The cursing and rude jokes are still present but it isn’t laugh-a-minute and even contains some sad, quite depressing scenes.

At two hours and 20 minutes long, it suffers from material that could quite easily have been cut. A clear example are the scenes at Laura’s house. They go on far too long, don’t really go anywhere and, criminally, sideline Rogen. It is a far better film before this sequence.

The acting, though, is very good. Sandler is a talent that has both delighted and infuriated me over the years. For every ‘Happy Gilmore’ there’s been a ‘Mr Deeds’ but he is strong here. Actual home videos from his past are used and this adds a personal touch, and helps him show some real emotion.

Apatow’s ‘main man’ Rogen’s brash, loud style in his previous films maybe hasn’t been for everyone, I found it extremely funny, but he is more low-key here. He shares a great rapport with Sandler and a scene where Ira makes a ‘playlist’ for George ends in a superb emotional moment.

Apatow’s wife Mann brings some heart but Australian Bana, better known for more serious roles, is quite overbearing and Clarke feels like a character dropped in from another movie.

Another Apatow regular Jonah Hill (Leo) and Jason Schwartzman (Mark) provide excellent comic support but you want more of them.

This is one of the film’s biggest problems; quality characters and plot strands tend to disappear for large spells. Personally, I’d rather have spent more time with the funny, spiky relationship between Ira and Daisy (Aubrey Plaza) than that between George and Laura.

There are laughs, though, as well as in-jokes and fun cameos, including a humorously bitter Eminem, and the cast just about manage to hold your interest.

‘Funny People’ isn’t the greatest comedy but it is a good film ... just not great. And for an Apatow movie that’s a little disappointing.

Rating - 7 out of 10.