As a change of pace from the usual zombie-vampire-criminally
insane-serial killer bloodbath of a movie John tends to talk me into watching,
last night we watched the 2009 Adam Sandler dramedy Funny People. I had heard good things about the flick, but
I wasn’t sure what to expect.
In movies past Sandler has at times walked a fine line
between amusing and puerile and this one is no exception. At least for the first few minutes. The opening scenes are actual footage from
Adam Sandler and director Judd Apatow’s early days as roommates trying to get a
foothold in show business. Using the
signature voices that Sandler ultimately became famous for in the 1990s, he and
Apatow honed their comedic skills by making crank calls to customer service
hotlines. (I must say I have never
really had much appreciation for this type of prank comedy. I feel so bad for the victim that I can
never fully appreciate the humor.
Seriously; I can’t even watch Punk’d without cringing and changing the
channel before the jig is up.)
Thankfully, the movie takes a turn I wasn’t expecting. George Simmons (Sandler) is a famous standup
comedian and film star who discovers he is terminally ill. The rest of the movie is about how he deals
with his own mortality and his attempts at reestablishing relationships with
all the people he has alienated in his journey to stardom.
While Sandler did a good job playing the aloof malcontent, I’m
pretty sure the best parts are the scenes with Ira Weiner (Seth Rogan) and his
roommates, played by Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill. I found it particularly funny that
Schwartzman’s character is so smug about having the lead role in a fictional cheesy
sitcom called Yo Teach.
All in all it was a pretty good movie. It was nice to see Adam Sandler in a role
where the frat boy goofball quotient isn’t quite so high.
