Judd Apatow's third film may very well be his best one. In fact, with "Funny People", he has written and directed a masterpiece. Great stuff from start to end. From the hilariously raunchy stand-up comedy shows to the harsh life of George Simmons (Sandler), this film pulls you in and never pushes you away. Apatow's screenplay truly shows his ability to mix comedy with drama. Unlike his other two films ("Knocked Up" and "40-year-old Virgin"), his new one is totally focused on being heartfelt. But what Apatow also shows here is that he is truly a comedic genius. The dirty jokes are there, of course. But he also has an amazing skill of using satire. One example that pops into my head is when rapper Eminem asks comedian Ray Romano if he wants to fight. Ira (Rogen) then asks Romano "what's wrong? I thought everybody loves you". Classic stuff. And trust me, there are a lot of classic laughs to be had.
What "Funny People" undoubtedly has is tremendous acting. You have Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman. All are impressive, but Adam Sandler stands out from the rest. He is terrific here as George Simmons. Yes, you get the natural Sandler, out-of-control stuff. But what you also get here is the dramatic actor type. And when he is turns into that kind of actor, he is dynamite. Never misses a beat throughout the whole thing. He has turned in two other great performances like this before (in "Punch Drunk Love" and "Reign Over Me"), but this third effort is easily his best by a mile. May not be the best performance of the year, but c'mon now. Give credit where credit is due. One of the best performances of the year so far.
And now let's talk Seth Rogen, who plays Ira Wright. Let me tell you something that I've never said about him before. I really, REALLY admired his performance in this film. Like Sandler, he is still Rogen. That classic laugh and his dirty mind. But now that he has lost all that weight, he added some terrific acting skills that can get him some great roles in the future. In being funny, he goes along with Sandler, but when the going gets rough and he's in a serious scene with Sandler, he holds his ground brilliantly. And though he won't get the same credit as Sandler, this is by far his best performance that he has ever turned in. You saw the talent of Seth Rogen in Apatow's "Knocked Up", and now he is fully utilizing that talent.
The story is simple, but wonderful. George Simmons (Sandler), a famous comedian and actor, is told by the doctor that test results were bad. It's over. The sickness can't be repaired. Bottom line: he's dying. Simmons, who is lonely and sad, goes and hires Ira Wright (Rogen), who he liked very much in his stand-up set. Wright goes on to write jokes for Simmons when he performs. As time passes, there is a sign of a true friendship. Wright thinks so, anyway. Simmons practically has no friends, BTW, so this is good for him. Simmons then starts talking to his long lost love, Laura (Mann). The problem is that she's married and George wants her, bad. Can his friendship with Ira save him from his emptiness, dealing with the sickness? And can George get back with his "true love", Laura?
Judd Apatow's screenplay and direction is truly amazing. From top to bottom, "Funny People" is nearly flawless. Could've been a tad shorter, but it's not monumental. All in all, Judd Apatow has made a terrific film that is killer funny and genuinely dramatic. It is safe to say that he is the king of comedy of this generation.
Rating: 31/2 out of 4
