DVD Review: Funny People

Rated R for strong language, adult humor, some sexuality

Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill

George Simmons is a very successful comedian who also has had a very successful film career. However he is extremely full of himself and has lived a very materialistic life. When he is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and begins taking an experimental drug that may or may not cure him and George begins to rethink his life and get back to his roots in stand-up. It is here that meets aspiring comedic Ira, whom George decides to take under his wing by hiring Ira as his assistant, having him write his jokes and keep him company as George refuses to tell anyone else about his condition. Eventually, George takes Ira's advice and opens up with his family and former close friends about the fact that he's dying, reconnecting with them; one such person he tells is his former girlfriend Laura, whom he truly loved. Believing that George will be dead soon, she admits that her husband cheats on her and that she regrets leaving George for having done the same.

However, the experimental drug George has been taking does work. Given a second chance to live, will George revert to his own materialistic, self-absorbed ways or will he turn over a new leaf this time around? And now that he's not dying, does he actually have a chance to win Laura back, despite her already having two young daughters with her husband?

Funny People is an enjoyable film for about the first 2/3rds of it. The first part of the film, it's inspiring to see George realize the error of his ways and make things right. The cameos are hilarious and even the stand-up by up and comers as well as the very well known comics are pretty good (if you enjoy Comedy Central type stand-up routines that is). After George gets cured and begins trying to win back Laura is where things really take a turn for the 'non-funny.'

As much as I enjoy Judd Apatow's work (I thought Freaks and Geeks was brilliant and is still one of the best TV shows to ever air), it really is getting tiring seeing him plop his wife (Leslie Mann) and daughters into his films now - in this case, they're the focus of the entire last part of the film. While I understand where he was trying to go with the last part of the film, it just wasn't funny - it was actually painful to watch and we could all see where it was going from the beginning of the plot arc.

Save yourself the time it takes to watch this one and flip on Comedy Central or watch some stand-up DVDs instead, as that's really the highlight of the film that makes it funny.