Funny People Review

Funny People is a strange and appealing film. Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and the ubiquitous Jonah Hill, the film revolves around the brutal and crushing world of stand up comedy. Ah you think it’s all scatological, fart and penis jokes, well apparently you couldn’t be more wrong, well at least not only those. Stand up comedy is about death, dying and the horror of being on stage when nobody’s laughing.

It’s no secret that Adam Sandler is dying. Well George Simmons is dying and Adam Sandler happens to be the actor that’s playing him. Seth Rogen is Ira Wright, an aspiring young comedian who worships the ground that George spits upon, as does nearly every person in the film except Eminem who spits on the ground himself. If fame is anything like it’s portrayed in Funny People I want none of it. That's seems to be the message of the film: fight as hard as you can to get famous and become a dick.

George Simmons is famous, as famous as Adam Sandler but he’s dying, dying of a particularly virulent type of leukemia. Sadly he’s lonely and apparently with not a single real friend, no contact with his family and no love in his life…that is till he meets Ira. Ira is a stunningly unsuccessful human, stuck in a dead end job, showing up to do free sets at the local comedy club and completely helpless with women and George takes him under his wing.

Funny People seemed to be headed into comedy hell at that point had it not taken and interesting turn: George Simmons does not become the “hero” saving Ira from obscurity and then dying as expected. instead Simmons becomes an object of human compassion, at least for those afraid he’s dying. Until he doesn't and manages a nearly miraculous recovery. And that’s the problem; the film flirts with being really funny, really dirty and really moving and heartwarming, but flirting seldom leads to a successful shagging. Funny People is no exception. The movie could have been comedy's Terms of Endearment but no. It's just another film.

There’s enough in the film to recommend it, but nothing outstanding. The acting is ok, the direction average and the plot slim but workable. The only thing enjoyable to me was the multiple cameos. That was rather interesting.

Rating 3 stars out of 5.