First of all, I am aware that this is not exactly a new release, however, I was just recently made to watch it. I feel compelled to share my opinion. Funny People is simply not funny.
I will admit that I am not the biggest fan of blue comedy and I get tired very fast of over-zealous cursing. This, however, was the least bothersome part of Funny People.
First of all, the plot isn't just one plot, it is two, or perhaps three, main plots. This results in a confusing, anti-climatic, and long film. This film is two and a half hours long, where most comedies last about 90 minutes. Here's the kicker, the DVD has an extended version, as in the two and a half hours is less than Judd Apatow wanted to show. That is scary on a whole new level seeing that this film took the better part of an hour to come to a point. How this movie is missing scenes is beyond me, it has too many already.
Adam Sandler, whose character George Simmons is supposed to be mildly unsympathetic, is intolerable. He is grim when he is supposed to be funny, and awkwardly disgusting when he is supposed to be funny. Since he is essentially playing himself, (a comedian formerly known for stand-up and increasingly known for stupid movies he has made) it strikes me that it should be rather important to maintain some sort of humanity. Not so. We end the long, arduous film by seeing him hit bottom four times in a row. He then hits the very bottom where he begins writing jokes for his once protege. While some may see this as an acceptance of humility, I see it as a last desperate act of a man who has lost integrity for everything.
Ira Wright, played by up-and-comer Seth Rogen, makes a very convincing naive play, but that's where his role in this film ends. He is the played-up naivety that is a send-up to all of Adam Sandler's jaded penis jokes. The other actors are the exact same as they are in the other Judd Apatow films they have been featured in, which means they even make the same jokes.
A singular saving grace of this film is the wonderful stand-up comedy that was peppered in. The quality of Seth Rogen's performances increased with time exactly as it was supposed to and every act conveyed the exactly the tone and theme it was supposed to. The only times I laughed were during these scenes. The rest of the film is a long succession of people I don't care about doing things I don't need to know about.
The romance, so called, in this film is more like an obsessive co-dependent and abusive relationship wherein both parties manipulate and cheat their way into affection at every turn. Leslie Mann, playing Laura, fumbles her way through an affection that cannot be understood as genuine for either her husband or her lost flame Adam Sandler. As far as I am concerned, Laura's two daughters were the finest actors in the film. They are ironically Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann's actual daughters.
Eric Bana makes a close second in both acting talent and humour in this film. Interestingly, I believe it is because Eric Bana doesn't do comedy. He is funny because he is not supposed to be within the context of the film. He plays a minor role and does it wonderfully. He is the only person in this film not infected with the maddening desire to make the people nearest you laugh at penis and fart jokes. That, and his hysterical fight scene with Adam Sandler, are the reasons this film was marginally watchable.
I retract what I said before, Eric Bana must share his titles for funniest person in the film with Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem. This man, also not a usual favourite of mine, exhibits some of the finest comedy I have seen in motion picture history. A little quiet scene where he threatens to beat up Ray Romano. Bizarre, but highly humourous and it involves Adam Sandler making the fewest jokes of anywhere in the film.
Everyone I have asked told me this movies was "just ok, but not great" and I call them liars. This movie led me down a path of false hope where I believed that I could passively sit and mostly ignore this film. I was actively afeared and angered instead. If any of you are followers of wise men voice by Frank Oz, you know what fear and anger lead to.
Have a good night.
Liz
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