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RATING:   
SINGAPORE: Do not be fooled by the film’s title thinking “Funny People” is all about the tickling of funny bones.
While “Funny People” is thronged with seemingly endless groin jokes and goofy humour, director Judd Apatow has managed to use this film to explore some heartfelt moments through the lonely life of a comedian.
George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is an A-list comedian who has made a fortune over his career course of delivering low-blow jokes at dark pubs and from starring in a couple of ridiculously slapstick movies.
Enter the life-altering tragedy. During a routine check-up at the hospital, George learns that he has an incurable blood disorder.
Depression hits George square in the face. Not only has this average guy (if you can overlook the fact that he owns a sprawling mansion overlooking the azure sea) contracted a potentially fatal illness, he has no one to share the devastating news with.
Despite having hoards of fans around the world, all he yearns is the sincere comfort and consolation from loved ones and close friends.
As the death clock ticks, George starts to re-examine his life priorities before coming to a conclusion that all the limelight from both his supporters and the numerous hot chicks that he has slept around with does nothing to make his so-far fabulous life a truly fulfilling one.
George hires aspiring comedian Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) as a personal assistant after a chance encounter at a local comedy club to write jokes for him, but it is not long before a comic friendship between the famous and not-so-famous one blossoms.
Ira is as loyal as a puppy to the point of being George’s punching bag, but he has all the legitimate reasons for being so faithful if he wants to stop living out of a pull-out couch and to start racking in the bucks.
On Ira’s advice, George decides to open up and reconnect with his loved ones. He shares the news of his illness with his past flame, Laura (Leslie Mann, who is Apatow’s wife in real life) who is still very much attracted to her ex-boyfriend despite being married to Clark, a cocky Aussie corporate business man (Eric Bana) with two children (played by Apatow’s two daughters).
When the doctor tells him that he may have beaten the illness and have a second chance in life, George continues to use the ditzy Laura for emotional leverage. However, Apatow is not taking the easy way out by allowing George to win back the girl of his dreams.
Perhaps that is why “Funny People” suffers from its 146-minute running time and starts to feel very heavy two-thirds into the movie.
The obvious tone shift from being light and comedic to one that is dramatically lengthy when George tries to put right his past mistakes could have been avoided if Apatow was more disciplined in preventing the film from being too scattered.
Still, “Funny People” is far from being a failure. Unlike other gag films which are stodgy with clichéd sexual innuendos, Apatow manages to give a warm heart to this film and gets the viewer thinking about the perils of fame and second chances in life.
Adam Sandler is as effortlessly terrific as he was in his early career; his affinity with goofy voices is still present.
‘Funny People’ even features some archival footage from Sandler’s home movies and early 1990s stand-ups. His abundant witty charm is the saving grace of this unrestrained, prolonged film.
His sidekick played by Sean Rogen also gave an equally solid performance and other high points in the movie include guest appearances of famous stand-up comedians such as Dave Attel, Norm McDonald, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill. Even rapper Eminem has a short cameo in it!
There is much to love about “Funny People” but I would say that just like in a dimly-lit, dodgy comedy club, it could either be greeted with cheers or jeers depending on the audiences’ evaluation on the second half of this dramady.
-CNA/jk
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