Movie Review: Funny People

When I walked out of the theater after watching Funny People the first thing I thought was exactly the first thing I knew I would think: Needs more Rza! But honestly, other than that Funny People is a good movie, until it takes a dramatic turn for the worst at the end.
The film stars Adam Sandler as Comedian George Simmons, a stand-up comedian turned movie star who could be compared to the real life Sandler, though I was more reminded of Eddie Murphy. At the start of the movie Simmons learns that he has a debilitating blood disease, with only an 8% chance at survival. Depressed, Simmons makes a surprise return to a standup club, to the surprise of opener Leo Koenig (Jonah Hill) and the guy who has to follow Simmons up, Ira Wright (Seth Rogan). Wright and Koenig share an apartment with Mark Taylor Jackson (Jason Schwartzman), an aspiring actor who was just cast in the lead of the TV series Yo Teach! (Think welcome back Carter on Nickelodeon).

Ira isn’t too great at standup, Leo attributes this to his weight loss saying that average looking guys can’t be funny. Ira even ends up paying his co-worker (RZA) to go see his show. Simmons, however sees something in the performance, especially how Ira is able to capitalize off Simmons weak routine prior to his own. The Next day he calls Ira to ask for the two roomies help writing jokes.

Simmons begins doing more standup with Ira as his opening act. He also becomes his Simmons secretary, driver and the person who talks him to sleep. While dealing with serious issues like telling parents and loved ones about his disease, the movie makes no missteps, with seriously funny standup bits and visits to the doctor’s office. The film also features cameos from celebrities and comedians, but Eminem’s cameo was probably the show stealer.

This takes us to an hour and a half in the movie, things are going well and I’m about to give it four to four and half star rating. Until Simmons finds out that the disease is disappearing. This is especially hard to break to his ex-fiancée Laura Anderson, (Director Judd Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann) who George reconnected with during his farewell tour. Though in perfect health, Simmons uses the opportunity to rekindle the flame, at Anderson’s house nonetheless. While Ira is left to look at the children, his original unease about Laura is reinforced by the arrival of Laura’s husband Clarke (Eric Bana). From here the film takes some strange turns, while supposedly dealing with real life issues, this part of the film is dragged out, boring and unnecessary. In the end, everything is patched together again.

I would highly suggest seeing funny people, just not the full movie. 2.5/5 stars