FUNNY PEOPLE - REVIEW
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Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill
Rating: ****
Funny People is perhaps signalling a changing of the guard. This is something this reviewer has been alluding to for some time. When it was first heard that Rogen and Sandler were to appear in a movie together, it was as if the comedy planets aligned and the perfect recipe for hilarity was in the making. The King of Comedy was officially handing his mantle over to Seth Rogen and Rogen was to graciously accept and carry on making us laugh as if it had never happened.
George Simmons (Sandler) is a comedian, and a famous movie comedian at that. He is also sick, in fact he's dying. Ira is a Food Retail Clerk, who dabbles with stand-up and lives with another comedian (Jonah Hill) and a B-Grade TV celebrity(Jason Schwartzman). Ira's life is turned on its ear one night after Simmons seeshim perform a stand-up routine and is so impressed he commissions him to write jokes for him and be his assistant.
Most people would look at the line up here and expect side-splitting gags from all angles shot at a cracking pace for 90 minutes and a happy ending with everything resolved and nothing left to wonder about. This was not the case here. That was not a disappointment by any means in fact it was quite the opposite. Sandler flexed his dramatic muscle once again, after the surprisingly good Reign Over Me showed a different side to his persona. The foray into drama, from comedy beginnings is a tough one that takes greater skill than most are given credit for. Robin Williams is one such example who is able to switch between the two with ease.If Sandler can maintain this level of dramatic intensity he will fast become credible in the genre undoubtedly.
Rogen is someone that tends to play himself. In this however he plays a lesser version of the person we've been seeing, and more of a babe in the woods caring and empathetic character. This works. His awe of Simmons is believable and we readily see that he would do anything for his childhood idol and expect nothing in return except mutual respect.
Leslie Mann is a delight, and so ar her kids (and that of director Apatow's) as we first saw in Knocked Up. Eric Bana as the Australian doesn't have to stretch himself here, though A,erican audiences will think he's putting it on. His work in the early days, of stand-up and the embedded larrikanism that makes him an Aussie are all present, down to his beloved footy team that he is so passionate about.
Jason Schwartzman played the only unlikable character in my eyes, though perhaps it was written that way and he played it perfectly. He is credited with providing the musical score for the films filler pieces, and that is a mark of redemption as they were quite pleasant, and obviously so as they were memorable enough to be noted.
There are two scenes of note, the one that takes place between Ira and George in the kitchen and the bar scene that is cast with instantly recognisable comedic faces including that of Ray Romano. Perhaps my stand out moment though, was between george Simmons and Hip-Hop Tsar Marshall Mathers. Appearing as himself, and quite bluntly expressing his feelings on the trappings of celebrity to George in a reflective moment. Even though leading up ro the film, there was news that Mathers would appear in the feature, this review was expecting a walk on role and a throw away line, however the dialogue exchange was quite meaty although brief and perhaps gave Mathers a taste for the art again, since his inital foray with 8 Mile.
Funny People is one part Billy Madison, one part Rein Over Me that gets Knocked Up and spat out like a 40 Year Old Virgin and although not a Happy Madison Production, he still manages to work the Star of David into this movie, and pay homage to his roots in comedy and heritage once again.
Always Eighteen
Happy Waatching! - CR.