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Funny People (2009)

Director: Judd Apatow

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Synopsis

Judd Apatow’s makes his most personal project yet, as Adam Sandler’s world-conquering standup comedian finds himself stricken with a fatal disease, and trains up-and-comer Seth Rogen to be his successor.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Click here to read an interview with Apatow...

...and read Time Out's list of the greatest cinematic stand-ups

There’s an epidemic sweeping Hollywood. Call it ‘The Tarantino Effect’ or ‘Peter Jackson’s Syndrome’: as soon as a struggling director gets a whiff of success, they splurge out on that lavish, long-cherished personal project, be it ice-skating gorillas or an entire afternoon’s worth of Uma Thurman in a yellow jumpsuit. Judd Apatow deserves his bite at the cherry: ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ and ‘Knocked Up’ sparked a revolution in American comedy, bringing charm, insight and fun back to a genre dominated by joyless fratboy antics. But were audiences really clamouring for a two-and-a-half hour Adam Sandler movie?In ‘Funny People’, Sandler is front and centre (isn’t he always?) as George Simmons, a legend of stand-up gone to seed in a succession of mainstream money-spinners. Diagnosed with a fatal blood disorder, he hires budding comic Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) as his assistant, and tries to work out where his life went off the rails.

There’s much more to ‘Funny People’ than a brief synopsis can contain, including a great deal of soul-searching and self-exploration as well as righteous gags and celebrity cameos (Eminem! Sarah Silverman! James Taylor?). And that’s the problem: there’s too much here for one movie. Apatow’s plotting, so streamlined in the past, has become flabby and undisciplined, as what seems to be a straightforward tale of mortality and redemption gradually becomes bogged down by unnecessary characters and outright schmaltz, staggering to an unsatisfying conclusion. This is a generous, goodhearted, enjoyable movie, loaded with memorable characters and genuine wit. But there’s such a thing as giving a little too much.

Click here to read an interview with Apatow...

...and read Time Out's list of the greatest cinematic stand-ups

Author: Tom Huddleston 2009-08-25 10:38:58

Time Out London Issue 2036, 26 August – 1 September

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User reviews of this film

Emily said...

Posted on Sep 24 2009 08:34 rubbish! far too long and not enough comedy!

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sylvander said...

Posted on Sep 20 2009 14:50 P.S. Is Seth Rogan (Ira Wright) the love child of George Wendt (Norm from the the 1980's sitcom "Cheers"?)

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Sylvander said...

Posted on Sep 20 2009 14:43 If you thought this movie was funny, you ought to get out more. There is a little scene in it that sums up the entire movie for the 100 strong audience when I saw it in Aberdeen. A dvd of a ten year old girl singing "memories" is played. The effect was cringemaking. Apatow could have cut a half hout out of this work and it would make more sense and be less of a cure for Insomnia. I went to see this because I expected to see at least 3 minutes of good stand up. I was disappointed. Some touching moments, but that was it.

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tasha said...

Posted on Sep 09 2009 18:03 omg. went to see it on saterday it was sooo funny. go to see it with your mates and make sure your parents NEVER see it.

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Annette Willliams said...

Posted on Sep 09 2009 17:56 What a load of rubbish ! Smutty almost pornographic in its comedy , surely the mens private parts jokes are old hat, if i had a 15 year old watching this it would worry me, far too long and laughted about twice, people were walking out of this movie, dont waste your money !

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Readie said...

Posted on Sep 04 2009 10:50 Seriously self-indulgent. Oh, and far too long, lacking in laughs, and with so many (often bizarre) cameos that when an actor from "Mad Men" randomly appeared, I found myself struggling to work out whether he was playing himself or a character.
Other than that I loved it.

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Andy C said...

Posted on Aug 27 2009 12:09 Oops, forgot to rate it!

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Andy C said...

Posted on Aug 27 2009 12:09 I loved this film. Saw an advance preview in Lancaster as part of Sky Perks. It is funny, heart warming and the characters are really well developed. Adam Sandler can really act and it is very very funny. One of the best films I have seen in a long time. If you hate all Apatow or Sandler films you probably won't like this but if you like knocked up, superbad, 40 year old virgin then you will love this. It has some of the same humour but a more serious core, it is quite moving in parts. GO SEE IT!

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Mark Hargrave said...

Posted on Aug 01 2009 03:26 As a visitor to Canada, had the misfortune of an advanced screening of this. An overlong, sprawling film that takes itself far too seriously. Funny people they may be but the laughs were too few & the message was too contrived. Sandler was at least likeable but this is a very American film - it will NOT appeal to the British market.

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