Adam Sandler plays George Simmons, a version of his real-life self who worked his way up doing stand-up comedy and now makes a living with dumb popular movies. When he's diagnosed with leukemia, he returns to his stand-up roots and meets Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) who he asks to be his assistant and joke-writer. Simmons uses his disease to reconcile old family relationships and an old girlfriend (Leslie Mann) who's now married (to Eric Bana). As with 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, writer-director Judd Apatow's special blend of honest emotional moments and raunchy humor works. But the film is overly self-referential, drops too many names, and tells way too many phallic jokes to reach the high level of his previous 2 efforts . . .
At nearly 2 1/2 hours, the film is rough around the edges, going on tangents, then forgetting subplots before remembering them again. Apparently, Apatow couldn't leave one cameo on the cutting room floor. Some scenes that appear inconsequential later become vital, so Apatow's script is well-constructed while leaving obvious room for improvisations. The stand-up routines work fine and the film plays well as an insider's look at the L.A. stand-up scene. But some of the best comic moments are Ira and his 2 roommates (Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman) riffing and occasionally being cruel to each other. Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation") has some great scenes with Rogen as well.
But my favorite scene was a dramatic one, which has the oncologist (Torsten Voges) giving Simmons some good news. I've never been a big Sandler fan, respecting only his collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson (and tolerating The Wedding Singer). He's superb here, but unlike Punch-Drunk Love, Apatow pulls some punches and lets Sandler off easy. Rogen, however, gives his all-time best performance, playing a real character for the first time. He portrays decency and morality very well, making Ira the easiest character to root for. Mann is amazing as expected and has a couple of moving moments. Somehow, Apatow is able to make a lot of great points about fame, wealth, family, marriage, male bonding, and friendship. It is a little all over the place thematically, but Apatow does stick the landing - the last 10 minutes are perfect. Apatow's musical choices (including one from his real life daughter's play) are perfect as well, with a heavy dose of John Lennon and some pretty good original stuff from Jason Schwartzman. B+
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Funny People - B+
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
B+ for me also, but its a hollow B+. The reconnection with the old girlfriend did NOT work, and the Bana character was too much of a caricature (the one guy with a real job is the biggest joke in a movie about comics?). I can't wait to see it again for all the great laughs, but will have to fast forward through big chunks of the 'reconnection'. If Apatow just needed something to require Sandler's reflection, why not use his family instead of just doing a schlocky montage wherein (I guess) he fixed it all with them.
Rogen's character annoyed me just about the whole time. I liked him better in Knocked Up.
Aubrey Plaza was GREAT. "Did you just ask me if I like music?" and her standup were classic. She and Aziz Ansari showed flashes of why Parks and Rec (shooting 2nd season now) is among the best comedies on tv. I enjoyed the eminem cameo, but thought the James Taylor cameo was distracting. You should read Manohla Dargis' review - she calls Mann a lightweight, brittle talent - ouch.
"That's like asking me if I like food."
Ansari has a routine better than the Cold Stone Creamery thing on the HBO special. It's about a website that's the opposite of Facebook where you keep track of your enemies (called sh!tlist.com). Great stuff. Should have been over the closing credits at least.
I thought the biggest joke was Schwartman and "Yo Teach." The Marin County stuff was weak and flat and Bana was given too much room to ad lib and do physical comedy. Apatow was thinking of playing the Bana role initially, so this must be some deep-seeded fear in Apatow's mind: being replaced by one of Mann's ex-boyfriends. Not enough for a movie on its own which is probably why it was tacked on to his film about a dying stand-up comedian.
While Rogen did annoy me in the pool scene with that girl and his stand-up stuff was the worst of any, I loved his view toward women. "I would friend the sh!t out of her."
Post a Comment