In a rather short time writer, director, producer Judd Apatow has fixed years of bland comedy releasing and spawned a new era in the genre. Bringing fourth the likes of Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Evan Goldberg and many others to the limelight so we could see just how funny some rather unfunny events could be. The concept of 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' is quite a sad thing, yet what Apatow did was turn it into something lovely, true, wild and hilarious. 'Knocked Up' about the creation of a child from a one night stand. Nothing about that by real world standards is funny, yet again though we were proven wrong. And now with 'Funny People' a story about life, the possibility of death and stand up comedians he has made a mature and tearfully funny addition to his collection.
One of the first noticeable things is Adam Sandler's effortless performance as George Simmons, superstar comedian with a rare form of cancer. Instead of the film becoming a 'how-do-I-fix-my-life' kind of film involving him lamenting the whole picture because of his misdeeds, we see a more realistic look at things. Simmons is a funny guy, but not a nice guy in a lot of ways when it comes down to dealing with all that's on his plate. Seth Rogen's Ira Wright is almost a direct take from Apatow's own career as a comedy writer for 'The Ben Stiller show', 'The Larry Sanders show' and 'Freaks and Geeks'. Ira's smart, but lacks any form of confidence which holds him back personally and professionally. It's really only out of blind luck and a bit of balls that he lands the job writing for the dying comedian.
This job leads him down several roads including getting involved with George's attempts to get back with an old flame played perfectly by Apatow's wife Leslie Mann. She's now married and has kids (played by their own two daughters who are quickly mastering comedic timing). Eric Bana plays her cheating, Australian business man husband. This piece of the film is one built more out of drama then humor as it need be, but not without quite a number of funny moments.
The whole film is at it's core though is a love letter to comedians. I mean he loves these guys a lot and wants the world to know it. He also has assembled one of the best casts of 2009 for this thing and knows how to let them loose. I will say it's 139 minute running time it does feel a bit padded however it's never boring nor cheesy. In a lot of ways it feels like the perfect mesh of Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler and a Paul Thomas Anderson picture ( a mesh I would kill to see be made one day). Despite how well some of the other very impressive looking comedies coming along with year may be like the Coen brothers' 'A Serious Man', Steven Soderbergh's 'The Informant' and Ricky Gervias's 'The Invention of Lying', 'Funny People' will remain a great comedy and character piece of 2009.
"Funny People" **** out of ****
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