Review: Funny People (2009)

Story: George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is Hollywood’s biggest comedy star, but when he is diagnosed with leukemia, he must contemplate his solitary existence. He ends up hiring aspiring comedian Ira (Seth Rogen) as a protege – and essentially buys him as a friend.
Judgment: The first two-thirds of Funny People would easily stand as Judd Apatow’s best movie and could have earned major awards recognition. Sandler in particular is fearless as a bitterer version of himself (at least I assume he’s not this mean in real life). But the third act swerve into a tangential romantic plot saps the momentum from the film and takes the story out of the stand-up world it portrays so well prior. And Apatow is still too in love with his characters to end the movie in darkness.
What’s it all mean: The comedy circuit is starkly portrayed – full of camaraderie, cutthroat competition, and performance as therapy. Of course the comedy industry is huge now, and Apatow richly renders all its aspects– including laugh-track ridden sitcoms and, yes, cravenly commercial Sandler films. (Sandler must have trusted Apatow a lot to let him tacitly condemn most of his oeuvre.) Otherwise, its typical “dark side of fame” stuff.
Essential scene: Sandler’s Thanksgiving toast never fails to choke me up – he must be thinking of Chris Farley, right?

http://movieclips.com/e/hD3q/

George's Toast



Funny People

— MOVIECLIPS.com

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