Funny People is a serious film about the business of being funny. Adam Sandler is George Simmons, a man who bagged stand-up comedy to become one of the world's most popular movie stars. Simmons stars in awful projects. In one he's a male mermaid. Another casts him as a full-grown man accidentally turned into a baby.
That's where writer/director Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) inserts his twist. George is dying. He hires Seth Rogen's Ira Wright to write some jokes and be his personal assistant. Dying men are full of regrets. George wants to right his biggest wrong and reconnect with the woman he should have married.
-- Trailer, times, theaters.
She's now married to someone else.
-- Read The Critic of Pure Reason's review.
Skip the death thing and Sandler is basically playing himself. How hard can that be? Harder than you think. It is not his best-ever performance but it is close. The few times Sandler-who is closing in on 43-has shucked the buffoonery and stretched a little, no one saw the films. Sandler's success seems linked to permanent adolescence. Fart jokes beat out the cerebral and fans flock to flicks like You Don't Mess with the Zohan.
It hasn't all been bad. Sandler's only tolerable character is the humble sad sack from excellent pieces like The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates. However, they worked as much because of the skills of co-star Drew Barrymore as Sandler's charms.
Sandler's fans ignored his pitch perfect acting in Reign Over Me and in Punch-Drunk Love. Both tanked critically and at the box office. My critics complain about my complaints that Sandler's penchant for forgettable comedies has wasted his true talent. He's a mega talent with the rare ability to make you laugh and make you cry.
Funny People is going to be seen and will get critical raves. Apatow's script strays at times but the basic story takes you interesting places. Rogen and Apatow staples Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman and cameos by Sandler contemporaries Sarah Silverman, Andy Dick, Norm MacDonald, Dave Attell, Paul Reiser and others add fun and credibility to the first 90 minutes.
The last hour is the worry. When the love story ramps up the sugar, Funny People wanders, loses its energy and is not so funny, entertaining or profound. This is where Sandler rock solid performance becomes important.
Without it the film falls apart.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars
Rated R for language, crude humor, nudity, sex. It opens Friday, July 31 at the Carmike 12 and at the Fairchild Cinemas 12.
5 stars/4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars / 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars / 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars / 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
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Fart jokes at age 45?
Adam Sandler is still doing them and usually within five minutes of the beginning of a movie. Hard to believe isn’t it? And he doesn’t stick with just one. Sandler’s form of “humor” can be found twice, thrice, sometimes even four times in a film.
Prepubescent boys find a toot a hoot. By the time you’re 15, fart jokes are pretty much passe. Maybe it’s Sandler’s signature. Modern comedians tend not to use them. Billy Crystal is one of the few. He’s simply marvelous. A lot of old-time comedians did. Jimmy Durante said goodnight to Mrs. Calabash. Bill Cosby’s signature is, “Hey, hey, hey.” George Burns told his lovely bride to, “Say goodnight, Gracie.”
2011's best, worst and a few observations on 20 years as a film critic
2011's best, worst and a few observations on 20 years as a film critic
First some observations: If you're just interested in my best and worst of the year picks, scroll down. They're easy to find.
Two remarkable things about 2011.
No. 1: As I write this, I am wrapping up 20 years as the Tri-City Herald's film critic. No. 2: Last year I cried at a movie. Actually, I cry at a lot of movies but for a much different reason than you suspect. But more on that in a bit.
'Tower Heist' won't steal your time
'Tower Heist' won't steal your time
Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda lead a cast of seasoned comedians and not-so-seasoned comic actors seeking revenge.
Normally anything associated with Stiller or Murphy — critically speaking — is the kiss of death. Stiller and Murphy are one-dimensional — albeit talented — actors whose stock characters have worn thin.
Tower Heist uses Murphy sparingly and makes Stiller the fulcrum. He centers rather than generates the comedy. It works.
'Big Miracle' not so big, but miraculous
'Big Miracle' not so big, but miraculous
You can legitimately call Big Miracle the feel good movie of the year.
Never mind that the year isn’t very old. It is hard — however — not to like an “inspired” by a true story flick about saving endangered whales.
An inspired John Krasinski — from TV’s The Office — anchors the movie and leads an equally inspired cast of who’s who actors. Best known are Drew Barrymore and Kristen Bell. Supporting them are Ted Danson, Tim Blake Nelson, Dermot Mulroney and others.
'New Year's Eve' should be fresher than this
'New Year's Eve' should be fresher than this
It’s hard not to take aspects of this job personally. New Year’s Eve is an example.
For me, having to sit through used-to-be Hollywood TV icon and now movie producer and director Garry Marshall’s film is punishment for my ripping of last year’s equally awful holiday opus Valentine’s Day .
I wasn’t alone. Critics panned the film by the score. But this is take it personally day, so I’ll take having to review it as punishment.
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