Now before I move on to comment anything about the film, I would like the readers to know that I am huge a Judd Apatow fan and I love his movies!
I had been waiting a long time for the DVD release of Funny People but after unsuccessful attempts of pirating on the internet I grew tired of looking at below average prints, so after a while I had to give up. Until on a fine Sunday afternoon, I was told by a movie buddy who gave me the news that it’s finally out and that he was really disappointed with it. In fact according to him, it was “worse than pathetic”, not meant for Adam Sandler fans and so on.
Well, to a certain point I DO agree that the humor is not your raunchy kinds like meant to be Sandler’s earlier works. In fact the whole movie is only funny in parts, not stuffed with the greatest Rogen and Sandler moments. So let’s just take a step back and look at what the whole thing was about!
Why did THIS movie get a mixed response even though it can be easily claimed as Judd’s most mature work till date, keeping aside the fact that it was also the most absorbing movie of this year (IMHO).
Here’s why:
The news of 2 great comedians, Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler stirred a greater buzz for the comic community, raising expectations 100 folds. The more funny people in the movie, the funnier it is supposed to be right?
The title is “Funny People”. So it better be funny!
That’s a straight opinion from people who were expecting a lot more. Trust me!
Here’s what it actually turned out to be:
The movie is essentially about “people” in the “funny” business. Does the casting ring a bell anywhere? It is full of characters who are real and people who have been in the funny business for a long time. The opening shots of Sandler making prank calls is not made up; they were actual shots done on a home camera shot by Judd Apatow 20 years back in his apartment. All! Mind my words, all, characters have done a splendid job. In fact, there will be moments in the film where you will be able to absorb and connect with instantly, maybe even recall a few instances of something that’s happened to you before. All of them are very natural, which is what makes the direction noticeable.
With a line-up of other interesting “people”, Apatow ties together loose ends of strings tougher to look for in everyday movies. Only if you know the fact that Ray Romano, Andy Dick, Sandler, Rogen, Apatow are all friends from the same industry of “funny people”, you would begin to appreciate it more. But the trumpet HAD to be blown because of just the casting. Who could miss out on that!! Apart from that he also casted his wife Leslie Mann, who he had met at a routine stand-up gig through Adam Sandler, a friend.
With duration standing at 146 minutes, there are times when the movie may seem like a downer with gigs and an even boring TV sitcom “Yo Teach” but towards the end, it makes out to be a great plot. I will not hesitate to quote again that this movie is THE most mature work by Apatow mixed with great comedy elements. He also finally decided to let go off the dick jokes ……..or maybe not! J
It’s a story of complex characters with rich and real feel of emotions and life in general. So if you are looking for a brain-blasting line-up with comic stuff you have witnessed before in flicks like Superbad and The Hangover, expect something different if not better!
PS: The only reason I do not want to lay out the story here is because you can find that on any other film website. Hence, the blog post!
The moment was unsettling and disturbing when I put the book (The algebra of infinite justice) down. It managed to create an atmosphere of uneasiness all around. In an attempt to reclaim a sort of normalcy, I raised my head to overlook a group of bourgeoisies working, picking up piles of rubble in the distance. There weren’t many options left from that moment onwards.