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Funny People Review: B+
Pros: Funny take on mortality, fame, and real life.
Cons: Not laugh-out-loud hilarious; stars Adam Sandler.
Judd Apatow’s third film, Funny People, explores a tried-and-true plot: the dying comedian who loses his sense of humor. It’s hard to be funny and serious – there aren’t a lot of laughs in Schindler’s List – but Funny People pulls it off.
While Funny People won’t pull in the 17-year-olds like The 40-Year-Old Virgin did, it is still comical. There are less quotable “dick” jokes and more introspective moments. Is there humor in death? Watch the Funny People trailer and decide for yourself.
Adam Sandler plays a famous stand-up and movie comedian (with quite a few jabs at his real-life career) who is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Suddenly, life isn’t funny… until he meets Seth Rogan’s character, a rising stand-up star (think Daniel Tosh or Demitri Martin). The famous comedian aims to help out the upcoming one, but he ends up learning more than he teaches. Sunrise, sunset…
But I’m teasing. It’s actually pretty good.
Did you see “The Aristocrats?” Funny People does the same kind of “behind-the-scenes” look at the comedian lifestyle, except not as dirty.
Judd Apatow’s comedies have primarily been two parts gross-out mixed with one part heart, but Funny People raises the bar. It’s not exactly a first-date movie, but you wouldn’t be out of place taking a few friends.
Need one more reason to see Funny People? Go for the cameos: Eminem, Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano, Andy Dick, and James Taylor all make appearances – and that’s just the short list.
(I hope you liked my Funny People review. Since I get free movie passes from my girlfriend’s job, I’m going to try and give everyone a heads-up on the ones I see.)