Funny People: Review By WiseGuy

Funny People is a seriously good movie about stand up bussiness and being funny. This has to be the most dead on portrait of the lives of stand up comedians ever put on film. And how better to do that than young yet brilliant filmmaker Judd Apatow. With his third film, also directing The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, Funny People is by far his most mature and impressive film to date. Apatow will not go away and Im sure you will see him making much more comedies come the future. Here, in Funny People Adam Sandler gives his best performance of his career and it will be a shame if he doesnt only get a nod but come away with the win. But it is very unlikely he will win the gold but it is way to early to tell even if he'll get nominated. We will have to wait only eight months to see how it turns out.

It is not only Sandler how gives his best performances but also Rogen. In Funny People we see a whole new different Seth Rogen and Sandler. Seth is put in his first serious role of his young and hilarious career. And he delivers his best performance. Being a wonder to watch what he does best. The beautiful Leslie Mann also stars in the film (as well as every other Apatow film) and she is delightful. She is very funny as Laura in the film. She is a great actress and is always a pleasure seeing her on screen. Eric Bana also stars in the film playing Laura's (Mann) Australain lunny husband. Suprised when I first saw the trailer and found out he was in this. He pulls off his role in Funny People and comes off in top form. Doing a great and hilarious job. Bana can now do drama's and comedies and still be at the top of his game. Similair to how Jim Carrey started off working on SNL doing skits and making funny movies, then turned to drama roles. Which he pulled off with perfection. This is same for many other comedians as well. Jonah Hill and and Jason Schwartzman also star in the film as Ira's (Rogen) roommates. They are funny, mostly Hill, but Schwartzman shares funny moments. Emeinem (who I didnt even know was in the film, until my buddy told me), Ray Ramono, Norm Macdonald, Sarah Silverman, James Taylor, and Andy Dick have cameos in the film.

Away from the acting, I want to talk about the story. George Simmons (Sandler) is a very succesful stand up comedian who finds out he is suffering from a rare blood disorder and is not given long to live. Less than a year. Simmons does not want to reveal this tragic information to any of his relatives or public. Ira Wright (Rogen) is a struglling and young stand up comedian who also works at a deli. Performing after the famous George Simmons Wright pulls off good jokes to the amusment of Simmons. Taking notic of Ira, Simmons hires him to be his semi-personnal assistant, writing jokes for him, and opening act on his performances. The one thing that Simmons and Ira have in common is that they both have no real close friends. Simmons reveals the tragic news to Ira being his only friend. And as Simmons teaches Ira how to win the crowd, Ira trys to cheer Simmons uo and helps find closure in his legacy. As the first part of the film focuses on the relationship of Simmons and Ira, the second part focuses on Simmons defeating the disease and revalutaing his life and trying to get the girl (quote) "he let get away" back into his life. What is truly important to him and what gives true meaning to his life. This girl is Laura, a sweet and pretty woman who is married with two children. Not wanting to let go of her marriage she also still shares a love for Simmons. Apoligizing for years about cheating on her when they were young, Simmons finds hope in their relationship. Although never telling her about his sickness. Ira tells her that while not sure if he is 100% better he did defeat the disease. Coming to the shock of Laura. SPOILER: Simmons and Laura end up having sex after she invited him for a visit with Ira. The husband comes home and make them feel welcome thinking Simmons is dying.

But soons finds out (from his daughters after Ira tells them Simmons is better) that he is appaerently better. Laura admits she knew. After she starts to mock him in her hilarious Australian/Jamacian accent. Getting in a fight he storms out of the house and Laura tells George that she will tell him to try and find a new house when he gets back from China at the airport. End SPOILER.

A really brilliant film, Funny People shares terrific performanes. And it is a real movie which is what I love about it. Funny People has many different meanings of friendship, love, life and death. Filled with raunchy and crude humor, it also shares drama and romance. Funny People is more about comedy it is has meaning behind it. And that is what makes it a great comedy. And one of the most absorbing films of the year, if not the best. The Best.