In “Funny People” Adam Sandler plays comedian and movie star George Simmons, who is dying of a form of leukemia. At a telling point in the movie, George (Sandler) has a conversation with rapper Eminem. Eminem is angry and amazing in his cameo. Apparently, George may have beaten his disease. Eminem says that the best thing that could have happened was that George just died. Then he asks George what is his plan for his second chance in life. George doesn’t know. Eminem says flat out to George, “What exactly are we celebrating here?” At that point I was on board with Director and Writer Judd Apatow’s “Funny People”. Take me home, regardless of the amazing number of penis jokes. Even James Taylor cops to this. In an exchange with Ira (Seth Rogen) and James, Ira inquires whether James gets tired of singing “Fire and Rain”. James replies, “Do you ever get tired of making jokes about your d**k?” Apatow’s “Funny People” is hysterical and is about defining the noble cause of one’s life. Now that is totally unexpected and profoundly touching.
Apatow is a master of context and character. He generates powerful, funny, and moving performances from his amazing cast. Seth Rogen plays Ira Wright, a wannabe stand up comic working at Otto’s Deli, serving macaroni salad. Gen Y Ira sleeps on a roll-out sofa bed at the apartment of his more successful roommates Leo (funny nerdy Jonah Hill) and Mark (affected Jason Schartzman). George attempts his return to his stand up roots, and hooks up Ira as his joke writer, seeing his innate talent. Following a hilarious MySpace gig, George makes Ira his assistant. George is a jerk, and admits that he doesn’t have any real friends. Ira is it, and George doesn’t even like him.
Here Apatow weaves a funny and moving story. George has Ira tuck him in at night. George outs Ira’s Judaism—his name is really Ira Weiner. So his name made him want to become a comedian. Then George talks about his Dad, “I spent my entire life, trying to make him laugh.” This is a great failure to be in his life. The other great incomplete in George’s life is the “one who got away”, Laura (powerful and funny Leslie Mann). Laura left George to marry Australian Clarke (arrogant and insightful Eric Bana), and now lives in Marin County with their two beautiful daughters. Laura comes to visit George in Los Angeles after learning of his illness. In both hysterical and poignant scene tearing Laura asks George, “Why did you cheat on me? I was so hot!” Mann delivers and this lands. She is awesome.
George’s journey to define himself anew is not an easy one, and in “Funny People” it is hysterical and very human. When George admits to Ira that he is dying, and asks him to kill him with his gun for $50,000, Ira panics, “I need to think about this!” George outs him again, “You’re sick!” For $100,000 would Ira cut off his head? George gives a toast at Ira’s Thanksgiving dinner. He says your 20’s and your 30’s go quickly. He quietly reminds, “Don’t let the important things slip awayÂ…” In the last third of “Funny People” George’s attempts to recapture the past, instead of generating an undefined future, results in emotional and physical turmoil. Ira harshly reminds George that not everyone is given a second chance at life, “And you haven’t learned a thing!” This is Seth Rogen’s best performance. Adam Sandler is funny and powerful.
Although “Funny People” runs a bit long, and has more penis jokes per capita than any other movie, “Funny People” is hysterical and touching. Sandler and Rogen are awesome. “Funny People” is about boldly defining your life anew, and having that life be complete. See “Funny People”.
Watch the movie trailer:
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This post was previously published on IMDb.
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