Funny People

So, once again Nebulon beams down prepared for the usual Judd Apatow affair. Stoners and dick jokes all round. The funny thing about funny people is that, although those archetypes are still present (in varying degrees) is that there are also the bones of a subtle, sensitive and strangely heart warming films. Now don't make the mistake of thinking this is a chick flick or a 'bromance' it still paints the auditorium air blue, but this is a more emotionally sophisticated attempt than the films which have preceded it.

When world famous comedy mega star Adam Sandler finds out he is dying, he re-evaluates his life and recruits aspiring comic wannabe Seth Rogan to be his comedy batman, picking up his underwear and writing jokes for him. Sandler re-evaluates his life and gets back in touch with old friends and significantly old girlfriend Leslie Mann who is now married with kids.

In addition to the main arch though there are a number of sub plots involving Rogen's rooms mates and general comedy related stuff. This felt like we were seeing a small piece of a much bigger film, with plenty of stories which could have been fleshed out a little more and rounded off a little more conclusively. This lack of book ends might put some people off, but for those of you who don't necessarily need to see everything happen on the screen in front of you this shouldn't be a problem. This is cross sectional, not longitudinal and it's nice to think of these character's having a life off screen as well as on.

On the plus side, this is an eminently watchable film, despite not being laugh out loud funny in the way you'd expect from this genre, and a morbid tone which comes with the territory, it's the performances more than anything which draw you in. Rogen and sidekick Jonah Hill in particular would be interesting to watch doing their laundry. In addition to the central cast however, there is a plethora of cameos from Apatow's Hollywood set, including a brilliant turn from Marshall Mathers AKA Eminem, one of your planet's popular rap artists. Sometimes the cameo's come off as a 'look at me' gesture, with Apatow perhaps just wanting to show off how many people are willing to be in his film, but overall this doesn't distract too much.

On the downside, apart from the cameos and the slightly unfamiliar structure some of the stand up (and there is a lot of stand up in this film) doesn't pop quite the way it might, and the final act is burdened with a serious plot contrivance and a husband character played by Eric Bana which just doesn't ring true.

All in all there is little to dislike here. This isn't as laugh out loud funny as some of his earlier efforts, but it is perhaps a slightly more mature film, a little deeper and a little different. Give it a go.

Links

IMDB
Trailer
It's Jordan Time (this guy really did not like this film)