Film Reviews

Funny People

• Rating:
• Director: Judd Apatow
• Starring: Adam Sandler
• Details: US/145mins (15A)

Generally films about comedians aren't very funny, as, if you believe Hollywood folklore, the majority of them are manic depressives, who crave the attention and adulation of the masses to breathe. Naturally you'd expect a film based around the life of one that has been diagnosed with a particularly nasty dose of leukaemia, to follow the rule. But Funny People has comedy that is genuinely funny, and drama with suitable conflict that feels real. It might be too long, with moments of self-indulgence, but Judd Apatow has made a deeply personal and engaging film, that just lacks the focus to rank as a home run.
Adam Sandler is George Simmons, a hugely popular movie star, who sold his soul to the Hollywood machine years ago, and makes millions of dollars starring in crap kid's films - kinda like a white Eddie Murphy. When George is diagnosed with what he believes will be an incurable form of leukaemia, it causes him to reassess his life, which in turn causes him to realise he has no real friends. He meets Seth Rogen's Ira at a Open Mic night where he bombs, and hires him to pen some gags and act as his assistant - mainly out of loneliness. George believes the beginning of his empty existence can be traced back to the time he cheated on the love of his life, Laura (Leslie Mann), who is now married to Eric Bana's handsome Aussie, with two kids. When he is told he may be beating the disease after an emotional reunion with Laura, things begin to get complicated...
Those paying to see Funny People on the strength of the trailer may be perplexed to find a film pretty much full of unlikeable characters. Sandler's selfish stand-up who lost his way is often funny (mainly when ripping into Ira), but just seems to have forgotten how to connect with people on a personal level. Rogen's Ira is a spineless joke thief, who sponges off those around him. That's not all these characters are, though, and that's what makes the mismatched pair feel real. You may not like them a lot, but you buy the relationship and where they go, and that's more than you can say for the majority of films tackling similar subjects in a more serious fashion. It does take it's time getting where it needs to be - which will frustrate those waiting for gags.
The laughs are there, with the majority coming from Ira's friend Leo, played by a highly amusing Jonah Hill. He only appears occasionally, but when he does, belly laughs beckon. Performances all round are impressive, with Sandler, once again, proving he can tense those dramatic chops when he needs to; while Rogen follows up the risky Observe and Report with another ballsy choice. Maybe not as great as die-hard fans of Apatow were expecting, but this is still an impressive (slight) step off the comedy freeway for the writer/director.

Review by Mike Sheridan