For a short period of time I found myself not willing to put the time and effort into writing any more reviews but then as I was watching Funny People I quickly realized the meaning of time and how it seems to elapse at a very fast rate before our eyes. Life is short, so if you have dreams, conquer them now. Don’t bother waiting because you might just miss out on a few golden opportunities. Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) made George Simmons (Adam Sandler) quickly realize what he was missing out on and put things into clear perspective for the bewildered super star comedian who is in the midst of a battle with cancer throughout half of the film.
The old Sandler was great, I think we can all concur with that, but I truly believe the NEW Sandler is that and just a little bit more. Sandler has this ability to contain an entirely different actor within that we are not necessarily familiar with. The majority of us are expecting Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore or even the Big Daddy type of Sandler, but in Funny People he’s showing us more of the Punch Drunk Love or Reign Over Me Sandler, which is the one I adore. The new Sandler shows an above and below viewpoint that brings you a deeper side of who he really is and what he’s capable of portraying on screen for his viewers.
Funny People explores two separate worlds. It tells the story of how Ira Wright (Rogen) an average Joe who does anything he can to and fit in with the big boys at open mic night at local improv bars. Then it tells the story of a struggling, filthy rich comedian by the name of George Simmons (Sandler) who is too caught up in his own self to realize whats actually going on around him in the real world. The story is pretty predictable but for some odd reason is actually quite realistic. Sandler plays the overly obnoxious, self absorbed and very famous comedian who discovers early in the story that he’s looking at a tough road ahead because of detestable news from his doctor about having cancer. Simmons then hits up a local improv bar where he discovers the hidden talents of the mischievous yet shy Ira Wright. He calls Ira up on the phone and offers him a job to basicially do Simmon’s bitch work, write him jokes and mystifies him into being his friend because of the fact that Simmons is a lonely un-married man with no “real” friends per say. Simmons has no problem getting laid by complete strangers and bringing foxy ladies to his pad, but when it comes to making guy friends he becomes instantly clueless and fails to triumph. Eventually, Simmons warms up to Ira, when Ira has been warmed up to Simmons all along and they become a duo rather than just “co-workers.” Simmons is the type of guy who doesn’t like displaying his feelings to anyone, not even the girl he’s in love with not to mention the one and only woman in his life he “almost” married, Laura (Leslie Mann). As the story unfolds, Ira makes Simmons become comfortable in his own skin and opens a new side that’s full of endless possibilities.
I enjoyed Funny People immensely because it gives the audience a taste of the past and the present. The past being Adam Sandler and the present being Seth Rogen. Back in the 90′s and early 2000′s everyone was always talking about Sandler. Now ever since Superbad and Knocked Up, everyone has been talking about Seth Rogen. The guy is doing well for himself and has sky rocketed in the past two years in quite the positive fashion.
The majority of folks will be very opinionated about Funny People, but I thought it was a great flick that shows you a different aspect of what Sandler is capable of executing on screen. Seth Rogen also does a great job supporting him in one of his BEST roles that he’s ever done. Many won’t like Funny People because of the sole fact that this isn’t “classic” Sandler. Times change, Sandler is starting to take a different turn in his career and let others step up and take the spotlight of slapstick comedy. Enter Seth Rogen! This is your time to shine!
Funny People has received 4 stars out of 5.
1 star= Bad Movie
2 stars= Needs Improvement
3 stars= Good Movie
4 stars= Very Good Movie
5 stars= Superior Film
