Funny People

Saw the movie Funny People last night, the latest Judd Apatow movie who is best known for directing Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin.
What I enjoy about Judd Apatow movies aside from the consistent cast members (makes it almost seem like a TV show more than movies) is that he can take really serious issues, make them funny, but then makes the characters experience the reality of the situation.

This one wasn't really that different because it dealt with Adam Sandler's character, who is a very famous actor who has everything, but nothing at the same time, having a life threatening strain of Leukemia. Then there's Seth Rogen's character who is a struggling stand up comedian who has to settle for doing free shows at the LA Improv, who is asked by Adam Sandler to write jokes for him. And at the same time Adam Sandler keeps talking to this girl played by Leslie Mann that he fell in love with along time ago. She left him when he cheated and he wanted to patch things up.

Confused yet? I felt like this movie couldn't decide what the story line was and what was going to be resolved because in the end...nothing was resolved...seriously. At least it didn't feel like it.

I thought the movie did a very good job at showing the effects of the disease on Adam Sandler's character very well, it's especially hard when you really have no one who genuinely cares about you.

In conclusion, before going to see this movie know that it's not like the other Judd Apatow movies, it's more dramatic than it is a comedy even though the trailer makes it look pretty funny, but this movie is very unfocused and doesn't seem to have a good direction. Also this movie is EXTREMELY long for a Judd Apatow movie, try 2.5 hours long as in the same length as Harry Potter...but without the magic and special effects! I liked the stand up comedy parts and jokes. I liked the interactions between Seth Rogen and his group of friends. I just don't quite think this movie was as good as Knocked Up or 40 Year Old Virgin. You'll probably hear people quote it a couple times, but not nearly as much as his previous movies.




wildwombat