Review of Funny People (2009) by Buddy K — 13 Aug 2011

Has potential for greatness but is hindered by a long running time and the director's attempt to have his cake and eat it to. In many parts it does a great job of exploring the life a celebrity. However, for much of the running time it seems like Apatow is trying to play it safe and lets the film return again and again to sophmoric humor of his earlier two films. It feels like Apatow is too afraid to let it be a drama with jokes and instead lets it be a comedy with some serious elements. The film also drags and drags and ironically with such a long running time (for a comedy) is unable to tie all of the story's threads into something meaningful. Despite forgoing cliches in parts the film manages to end on a happy ending that feels rather unsatisfying.

Perhaps the film's biggest flaw is that Apatow being producer, writer and director has too much control over his films, can't separate himself from the material, agonizes over cutting scenes that, while occasionally funny, are actually superfluous to the plot and uses his increasing power to avoid having to make those cuts. That or he just savagely beats his editors anytime they suggest cutting material that doesn't contribute thematically to the piece. Expect Apatow's next directorial effort to be close to three hours if not longer. I'm all for director's having final cut but frankly studio execs and editorial types, as annoying as they are, are here to keep movies like this under control and probably would have helped make a shorter, strong and more consistent film if Apatow didn't have so much clout.

That said, the acting was good all around. Adam Sandler delivers a performance that stands next to his role in Punch Drunk Love as the best of his career. Seth Rogen does surprisingly well in several serious scenes and Eric Bana almost steals the movie.