Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Movie Review 2 of 2: Funny People

Funny People is a dark(ish) comedy starring Seth Rogan (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) and Adam Sandler (Adam Sandler movies). The plot revolves around the impending death of a remarkably Adam Sandler-like comedy movie star, who finds out he has leukemia. As he begins his downward spiral of self-destruction, he finds Seth Rogan's character, who is remarkably Seth Roganesque, and hires him to be his personal assistant/joke writer. Rogan learns from Sandler, Sandler learns from Rogan, there's girls involved, Sandler finds out he is going to live, they learn the importance of loving themselves, cue sappy upbeat music.

First of all, I love Adam Sandler. I love Little Nicky, I love that golf movie, the go back to school movie, The Waterboy, whatever. Also, I have been pretty impressed by his more dramatic roles, specifically Punch Drunk Love and Spanglish.

I feel the same way about Seth Rogan. In addition, I like the fact that he is willing to explore the relationships between men in a way that no other director/producer has. So I was PSYCHED for seeing them together.

There was nothing. It was Righteous Kill all over again. In my head I was singing "This is what its like when worlds collide!" but this was more what its like when you add vinegar to baking soda. Whatever chemistry each one has on their own must cancel out when they are together. It just fizzled in the same non-impressive way that a third grade baking soda volcano does.

There are a few bright spots though: There's a good deal of inside Jew-jokes, and references to day camps. Eric Bana turns in a very witty performance as the husband of Sandler's "one that got away". Also, as in all Seth Rogan films, there is some very funny witty banter. So overall, this movie was merely disappointing, not Click.

This one I would NOT run to the theaters for. Save it for DVD night. Look forward to that DVD night, but don't set your expectations too high.

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