Funny, for the countless movies that bear the name Judd Apatow, Funny People is only his third time as film director. The two previous ones of course being 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Once again his subject involves a man-child who is figuring how to look at the world differently.
The drama stems from Adam Sandler who plays a man who starts as a stand-up comedian only to make it huge in very low-brow comedies. The film opens with him alone in his palatial apartment surrounded by mementos of his career. Then he's told he has a rare form of leukemia and it's not looking good. The film then follows two main plot points.
First is the mighty Seth Rogen (of course he's in it) who plays an up-and-coming stand-up comedian. Sandler takes a shine to him and next thing you know he's writing jokes, opening for him and taking private jets. Next point is the lost love interest. Leslie Mann is the one that got away who now has two kids and an Australian husband.
You know you've seen a great film when you think about it the next day. I thought about this one for two days that's some good stuff.
The only thing you need to know going in that this film is not all comedy. Don't be fooled by the title or the very talented cast - Funny People is most certainly a drama. That said, there are many good bits of comedic relief to get you through two and a half hours.
