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Funny People

Movie Grade: A

DVD Features Grade: A

Overall Grade: A

How long has it been since a good Adam Sandler movie was made? Furthermore, is there even one exceptionally good film that Happy Madison Productions has to offer? The answers come something like the mid-90s and no, respectively. That’s obviously a personal opinion and only has a place in this review to further emphasize what a huge stride Funny People has made for this lackluster production company; With the help of modern comedy marvel Judd Apatow directing and writing this one. Apatow is best known for directing The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, as well as producing a big portion of comedies over the past few years, and working on several TV shows prior.

George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is somewhat of a Charles Foster Kane in the sense that he is very wealthy and successful, but also extremely lonely and self absorbed. After years of being a famous comedian and actor, George’s life became less meaningful as he drove away the people he cared about and loved for a life of excess. After being diagnosed with cancer and given little hope from his doctor for recovery, George returns to stand-up to find a sense of self worth. There he meets aspiring comedian Ira Weiner (Seth Rogen), who George hires to write with him. After Ira finds out about George’s condition, he convinces him to let his friends and family know, sparking up the relationship with his, now married, ex-fiancé.

The title seems a little misleading, since the movie is more about sad people than funny people. Yes it is hilarious; we get funny stand-up, as well as great Apatow style dialog which is always a treat, but the movie is very dramatic for a comedy. With George’s state, both mental and physical, being a massive strain on him the entire film, then him re-entering the life of his ex-fiancé, it is a lot to bear for a comedy. The realism of it all makes it even harder to watch because it all seems so plausible. It opens with real home footage of Sandler making prank phone calls and goes into this life that Sandler himself could very well lead. It is nice to see that the man can at least laugh at himself for producing an absurd number of contemptible movies.

If special features are what you’re after, then this is the DVD for you. Since this is a decently lengthy film, almost reaching two and a half hours; it is remarkable that the features manage to squash this length like a puny bug. This DVD offers deleted scenes, alternative and extended scenes, a gag reel, line-o-rama, documentaries – yes, more than one – music, archive footage of both leads, the films of George Simmons, prank call 1990, and “Yo Teach.”

The features that seem ordinary are just that, they don’t add much but don’t detract anything, just like one would expect. What stands out here are the features that are specific to this movie.

The whole idea of the fake Simmons’ movies is probably the funniest part of the movie and you get the chance to see extended version of the footage shown in the film. Even though Sayanara Davey was annoying, Red-Do and Merman were absolutely hilarious: they truly epitomize the shabby comedies that Sandler himself has had a hand in producing. The Yo Teach mini-episode and behind the scenes are nice touches to the universe of the movie: it is just one more layer to immerse yourself in.

This incredibly sad and incredibly funny comedy drama is only the third movie to be directed by Judd Apatow, and his resume is undoubtedly immaculate. It is also interesting to see Sandler, who was a front man of comedy throughout the 90′s, to be sharing the screen with Rogen, who is one of the current front men of comedy. It is somewhat like a passing of the torch that was foreshadows eight years earlier in an episode of Undeclared. As long and off-beat as this one is, it is certainly worth his duration it hands out. Hopefully this is the first of a long last of quality comedies produced by Happy Madison, but that might be a little too optimistic.

Movie Grade: A

DVD Features Grade: A

Overall Grade: A