Funny People
Dir: Judd Apatow
2009
**
I'm not sure Funny People is the comedy epic that Judd Apatow wanted it to be. It's run time is pretty epic though, as is the list of American funnymen in the cast. I liked the idea of the dying comedian, who has success and riches but is ultimately alone. I also like seeing the three young aspiring comedians, doing what they have to to get recognised. Apatow is obviously using his past experience as the centre of his story (Movie trivia: Adam Sandler used to be his room-mate). This is probably the films best strength and biggest weakness, it's starts well but then gets over indulgent, even our protagonist played by Seth Rogen gets tired and pissed off and wants to leave by the end. There is great film making here, the scene with Eminem is quite powerful and also very funny but then Apatow gets totally swept away with his ideas forgetting that the audience a) want laughs b) Don't know his friends and their in jokes c) have lives outside this film that they will want to go back to at some point. An opportunity missed by pure self indulgence with an abundance of great characters who still couldn't make up for it. Plus, Adam Sandler is making the sort of crap films he mocked in this movie, which makes it harder to take seriously in my opinion.