Funny People - Ironic Title?

You can tell just from the trailer that Funny People has a message to it. The major plot is revealed, that Adam Sandler’s character is stricken with terminal cancer. The trailer even reveals that the cancer goes into remission, leaving Sandler’s character, George Simmons, with new perspective on life. No, the trailer doesn’t leave much to the imagination. But there was still a surprise factor, and that was the heaviness of the film. Obviously, a film involving terminal illness wouldn’t be an endless string of one-liners and gross-out comedy, but come on, it’s an Apatow film. With Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Jonah Hill…cancer could be funny, right? Not so much. The film was much more serious and emotional than I had expected, and it gave me a sort of new found respect for Judd Apatow and his cast of merry men. There was a sort of depth there, like, look, we know life is about more than just penis jokes (though there are plenty of them). The film spoke volumes about the importance of living life to the fullest, of not getting caught up in money and fame, of not losing touch with the people who love you, and of the healing power of comedy.

Adam Sandler plays a comedian comparable to Robin Williams in wealth, power, and bad movie choices, who suddenly realizes he hates his life when he is dealt the almighty diagnosis. Suddenly, his mansion means nothing to him, even disgusts him. We watch him unravel onstage in front of his adoring fans. As he grows bitter toward the industry that lead him to greed and loneliness, this is contrasted by the young trio of comedic up-and-comers, played by Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and the brilliant Jason Scwartzman. As if you couldn’t already see the nice dichotomy of the excitement and determination and love of young comedians (Rogen’s character, Ira, glows while talking about performing pro bono) versus the jaded worldview of the old, it’s then driven home by a toast George Simmons makes to a table of twentysomething comedian friends at Thanksgiving dinner, telling them, in so many words, to enjoy the now and the people around them. It’s hitting us over the head with the message, but it’s a nice message so we’ll excuse them.

But in the end it’s comedy that saves even the older seen-it-alls like George Simmons (flanked by real-life comedian cameos that gave the film some credibility like Paul Reiser, Norm MacDonald, Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano - oh, and Eminem, which made no sense but the scene was pretty hilarious). Even through the tribulations George goes through with his “one-that-got-away,” Laura, played beautifully and vulnerably by Leslie Mann, comedy ends up pulling him and Ira through.

In the end, Funny People falls just short of being really solid and really strong. You won’t be able to put your finger on it. It’s got everything you’d think a movie should have: great cast, funny dialogue, strong storyline, poignant message…so where’s the disconnect? Wherever it is, and whatever it is, it’s not worth you not getting over to movie theaters to catch this one. It’s still basically a must-see, or at least a should-see.

August 3rd, 2009 by Courtney Iseman | Posted in Reviews | (4)