The people are funny in the movie, ‘Funny People’

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The Trav & SHE movie of the week: Funny People
“Funny People” is playing at the Malco Cinema 12 and the Carmike 14 in Fort Smith, and the Malco in Van Buren. Link here for ticket info and show times.

Trav: On paper Funny People should be the funniest movie of the year. The movie was written and directed by Judd Apatow, the writer/director of hit comedies like "Knocked Up" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin." It stars Adam Sandler, the "Saturday Night Live" alum and star of numerous comedies over the past 15 years or so. Also starring is Seth Rogen, who it seems has been in EVERY big screen comedy to hit theaters over the past five years. Add in Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Jason Schwartzman in supporting roles and its a can’t miss … on paper.

SHE: This is a movie I was looking forward to, yet feared. Were all the funny scenes in the trailer? Was it an intelligent comedy, as advertised, or an Adam Sandler throw-back? Adam Sandler is a talented comedian but I’m not really a “Billy Madison” or “Happy Gilmore” movie-goer. Nevertheless, Adam Sandler in a Judd Apatow movie? Along with Judd’s funny peeps? I gathered up my funny peeps, my 5 requisite snacks, and hoped for the best.

Trav: The story revolves around George Simmons, played by Sandler, an extremely successful comedian that has made a ton of dough from his career in comedy and hit movies. Even with all the cash, huge house, nice cars, and opulent lifestyle George is struggling to live a happy life even though he’s achieved all of his success by making people laugh. To make matters worse, he’s just been diagnosed with a potentially fatal blood disease that leaves him with little hope of survival. Sandler hires Ira, a struggling comedian played by Rogen to pen some jokes for him after watching him perform at a comedy club. Ira eventually becomes George’s assistant and helps George as he mentally prepares to die.

SHE: The casting is great. Is Adam Sandler an extremely successfully comedian who has made a ton of dough from his career in comedy and hit movies? Sure. Yet, what first appears to be typecasting, is then shown to be a superb acting job by Sandler. This is not “The Waterboy” type acting by Sandler, George Simmons is a complex character, as is Rogen’s character, Ira. Everyone has a friend like Ira, and if you don’t – get one. The supporting cast was superb. Of course, Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann plays Laura, the girl that got away from George. Apatow and Leslie’s real life daughters play Laura’s daughters in the film. All do a fabulous job. The writing is great and thankfully the plot is not too predictable.

Trav: Steph was worried that all the funny parts were in the trailer. I was concerned all the good tunes were featured in the promotional footage. The trailer featured music by Ringo Starr and The Postal Service which had me anticipating what music would be used in the film. I wasn’t let down. All the music selected for the movie was solid. It’s filled with great stuff from Wilco, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, James Taylor and even a song or two by Schwartzman’s Coconut Records.

SHE: Not only was the music great but the locations and settings really added to the film. There are a lot of location shots in Southern California: The Improv, an apartment in L.A. that’s shared by 3 struggling actor/comedians, a corporate gig, George’s Oceanside home. Of course, there is my favorite and those are the scenes in Northern California. Gorgeous. Watch for the many cameos, too! Gratuitous? No. It adds to the story and characters.

Trav: Something I’ve learned to expect from an Apatow movie is colorful language and plenty of immature jokes about male genitalia and flatulence. “Funny People” delivers the sophomoric humor but also has some over-the-head humor that had me laughing out loud at times. I think the movie would’ve been better with less of the silly jokes, but I still laughed at them.

SHE: This film is rated R for language, crude sexual humor, and some sexuality. Do NOT bring your young children to this movie! If only because it makes ME uncomfortable to watch it with them. Having said that, I appreciated the language and crude sexual humor because it is realistic. This is how peeps talk. Not all peeps, mind you but some of us never grow up.

Trav: While it doesn’t end up knocking “The Hangover” off the top of my list for funniest movie of the year, it is a very amusing movie with a ton of laughs and captivating story.  It clocks in at 2 hours, 26 minutes which had me checking my watch a couple of times but I ended up being okay with runtime. Funny People is a funny movie I’m rating a 4 out of 5. Go ahead and spend the money on the ticket.

SHE: The movie did run a little long but the writing is wonderful, music is first-rate, scenery is excellent and dialogue is genuine. I snacked on half a box of Raisinets but I walked out of the theater with 4 ½ of my snacks intact. I’m giving Funny People 4.5 out of 5. Gather up YOUR funny peeps and go see it.

Previews
• Gamer (Sept. 4)
Trav: As you may have guessed from the name of the movie, this is about a video game … a futuristic video game. I’m usually all about futuristic movies and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like video games, but I think I’ll skip this one in the theater and just add it to my Netflix queue. This looks like Microsoft’s Project Natal on steroids starring Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Leonidas (Gerard Butler).

SHE: Gamer looks like an interesting concept. In the future, one can play video games by controlling a real-life person – a death row inmate, nonetheless. I have to say that this is usually not the type of film I’m interested in, but I spotted John Leguizamo who I adore. And what can I say? Gerard Butler could draw me to the theater all on his lonesome.

• Zombieland (Oct. 9)
Trav: I don’t know what it is about zombie movies, but I find them funny. This looks like a comedy driven zombie movie starring Woody Harrelson, so this time I might not be the only one laughing in the theater while watching this one.

SHE: I just don’t know. It looks pretty silly. But then I realized those zombies look like some of the people I used to work with. Sign. Me. Up.

• Despicable Me (July 2010)
Trav: This will probably be the over-hyped animated feature of next summer. Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Will Arnett and Mindy Kaling, adults will probably flock to this as well to see how Gru will try to steal the moon.

SHE: I love Steve Carell but I’m not excited about this. Let’s wait and see.

• Couples Retreat (Oct. 9)
TRAV: This looks like a chick flick disguised as an unfunny comedy.  The cast looks great, you get Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Jon Favreau.  I’m just worried this could be one of those movies where all the good stuff is in the trailer.

SHE: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau. Love them! But, not enough to sit through this trash. Yep, I said it. Straight up garbage.

Feedback
Trav can can be reached at [email protected]

SHE can be reached at [email protected]