Funny People (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  I was very much looking forward to seeing Funny People. When I did, I was very disappointed. The film though has some decent laughs, but unfortunately doesn't what it wants to be, and goes on longer than it needs to. The film had a few good performances, and at times was funny;… More
  I was very much looking forward to seeing Funny People. When I did, I was very disappointed. The film though has some decent laughs, but unfortunately doesn't what it wants to be, and goes on longer than it needs to. The film had a few good performances, and at times was funny; unfortunately the film was too long and for the most part was very boring, and dull. I lost interest after a while; found Funny People to be quite a mediocre film. The length that this film goes on for is painful, and it's sufficient enough for anyone to lose interest. Halfway through the film the film becomes a drama and the comedy is kept at a minimum. This is a dramedy that just doesn't cut it. This is one of Judd Apatow's worst films in my opinion, and though it had a few comedic parts, Funny People proves that Adam Sandler is a talentless "comedian". Funny People really doesn't cut it, and falls flat overall. I think the film started strong overall, unfortunately halfway through the film, the film fell apart, and became a boring. This film is a perfect example of how filmmakers can't get a clue on how to effectively conclude a film, thus they added an additional hour that for me, anyways, was terrible and really didn't fit the film. The soul existence of the additional hour was to add a sense of drama to the film, and in the end, it didn't work, and it was pretty cheesy. This film would have been better if they trimmed an hour of footage and kept the film simply. Unfortunately by the films conclusion, Funny People is all over the place, and doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy or drama, straight forward drama. I understand it's a dramedy, but this film was poorly conceived. In the end, it tries too hard at being a film that tries to blend two genres into one film and the results are very mediocre.

• Ken S

  
  Despite the title, Funny People isn't laugh out loud funny. It's more like a smile inducing drama. A good little drama about life, love and fame. In the same genre as Terms of Endearment...but not as good.

• Graham J

  
  In my opinion, this is Apatow's best film so far, though still hilarious this is much more mature kind of comedy.

• Unknown H

  
  This movie seemed like three in one. On the surface on it, you have a tale of a quasi has been trying to change his life because of illness. A little deeper you have the story of a mentor and a wannabe trying to make it together in the tough world of stand up comedy. But deepest of… More
  This movie seemed like three in one. On the surface on it, you have a tale of a quasi has been trying to change his life because of illness. A little deeper you have the story of a mentor and a wannabe trying to make it together in the tough world of stand up comedy. But deepest of all you have semi-fabricated, somewhat false relationships that I for one didn't really care about. The film was far too long, seriously disjointed and although all of those movies may have been palatable on their own, together they were one jumbled mess that could not help but stumble over each other. Disappointing for the cast.

• Michael M

  
  It's not as good as The 40 Year Old Virgin or Knocked Up in terms of laughs and suprises and is even boring at times. Probably because its the only out of the 3 films Apatow has directed that is far, far, far too long, and the other's were very long too but they could keep… More
  It's not as good as The 40 Year Old Virgin or Knocked Up in terms of laughs and suprises and is even boring at times. Probably because its the only out of the 3 films Apatow has directed that is far, far, far too long, and the other's were very long too but they could keep me entertained longer then I needed to be entertained. Because his film's last around 2 hours if not longer. Funny People is longer than 2 hours but despite its unnecesary length I was entertained for the majority of the film. Again good performances by the carefully picked cast particulary Adam Sandler. This is probably his best starring comedy film to date and of course Funny People is an appropriate title for sure.

• Carlos M

  
  An uneven Apatow dramedy in which the first half is great but the second not really. The problem is that the story stretches for too long with many scenes that should have been left out in the edition room, leading to a serious lack of pace that bogs down the final result.

• Melvin W

  
  Ira Wright: Do you ever get tired of singing the same songs, you know, over and over?  James Taylor: Do you ever get tired of talking about your dick?  I'm one of the few people who aren't polarized by Adam Sandler. Most people either hate him or love him. I fit into… More
  Ira Wright: Do you ever get tired of singing the same songs, you know, over and over?  James Taylor: Do you ever get tired of talking about your dick?  I'm one of the few people who aren't polarized by Adam Sandler. Most people either hate him or love him. I fit into neither of those categories. Most of his movies I find watchable, but not very good. I've only loved two of his movies, Punch Drunk Love and Funny People. The easy way of knowing if an Adam Sandler movie is going to be good is by listening to his fans. People who love his form of comedy and go into Punch Drunk Love and Funny People are going to be disappointed because normal routine is gone. These two movies also show that he isn't a horrible actor; he can act, when he chooses to. Obviously it's easier for him to just pick some ridiculous dumb comedy that is accessible to a main stream audience and children can watch. Now, Funny People does a have a few moments where Sandler's normal acting style does come into play. But when it does, he's kind of spoofing himself, if that's possible. In the movie he plays a comedian and actor who makes a bunch of stupid movies(any connections here). Only when these movies are brought up do we see his typical brand of humor and in a way it feels like he's making fun of himself.  This movie is probably way to serious for the diehard Sandler fans and possibly the diehard Apatow fans. When I first saw it I was really shocked at how serious it was. I, like everyone else, was expecting another dumb Sandler movie. What I got was much different and a really good film. The supporting cast is terrific. Seth Rogen plays a really likable character. Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill have good roles. There's a million cameos, including: Eminem, James Taylor and Andy Dick. What really surprises me about this movie most is how beautifully shot it is. The cinematography is brilliant and not what you'd expect from a Sandler vehicle.  Even if you're not a fan of Sandler, this is one of his two films that I would still suggest watching. I'm not going to say it changed the film industry or anything like that, but it was a  funny comedy and at times an emotional and touching drama.

• Eric A

  
  This movie has it's bumps. It goes and then stalls, then goes and then stalls again.....this goes on for 2 and a half hours.

• Kase V

  
  A lot of people may be turned off by Judd Apatow's 'Funny People', and its because they'll enter the theater or the disc with some certain expectations. I know I did. This is not a typical Apatow comedy. He displays his common comedic experience here, but also… More
  A lot of people may be turned off by Judd Apatow's 'Funny People', and its because they'll enter the theater or the disc with some certain expectations. I know I did. This is not a typical Apatow comedy. He displays his common comedic experience here, but also shows off a considerable amount of dramatic material, using Adam Sandler's versatile acting chops (also displayed in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Punch Drunk Love') to his advantage. The cast tries its hardest to uphold a shaky final third, however to no avail. Its maturity may not be welcome to most Apatow fans, and the comedy isn't ripe enough to make up for it. Apatow fans may leave disappointed.

• Bethany M

  
  Not the best Adam Sandler has ever done but it's certainly still funny.

• Drake T

  
  Definitely one of my favorites from Apatow, rather than throwing us an endless stream of raunchy juvenile humor on top of accessible emotional cliches the laughs in this film are garnished in context of its exploration in sophisticated characters and relationships. It's a… More
  Definitely one of my favorites from Apatow, rather than throwing us an endless stream of raunchy juvenile humor on top of accessible emotional cliches the laughs in this film are garnished in context of its exploration in sophisticated characters and relationships. It's a bittersweet story about burnt bridges, friendship and the consequences of reality. What's most engaging were the scenes of Sandler's self destructive personality placed in juxtaposition with his character's good intentions and attempts for atonement. Ultimately works effectively as a drama with enough humor to break what would be a "snorefest" because man, once and for all this proves Apatow has poor pacing skills.

• John H

  
  I can't believe this, but I actually kinda liked this movie. For once, Seth Rogen is a likeable character. Adam Sandler was a complete asshole on the other hand. This movie tried unlike other Apatow films to be more of a drama. Sure, this was a comedy too, but I could tell it was… More
  I can't believe this, but I actually kinda liked this movie. For once, Seth Rogen is a likeable character. Adam Sandler was a complete asshole on the other hand. This movie tried unlike other Apatow films to be more of a drama. Sure, this was a comedy too, but I could tell it was being different and more sincere. And, this ain't the typical Sandler movie. Even though he goes that obnoxious high-pitched squawk, ya know, the drunk Billy Madison voice? Anyway, he was just the same as he was in Chuck and Larry, but even more of an asshole. What made me avoid that was fucked his life was and would always seem to turn out. Leslie Mann was just a little better than the disasters she's done in the past. She can't act, and it almost was apparent that that was the point to get around for her character. I say, see this movie if you like Rogen or Sandler. If you don't, at least give it a shot. You may hate it, you may like it. It doesn't matter, it's a movie, just amuse yourself. Keep in mind that this film clocks in at about 2-and-a-half hours. It's a tedious sit through. On a side note, there are too mny oddly placed celeb cameos from those who have faded from the world of entertainment. And to cherry it, "cock" was the most numerous word and topic choice of dialog. But, what made this more suitable for Apatow was all the vulgar language and sexual remarks he'd write into a movie, or looked for in a movie flow out naturally in here, since it is about stand-up comedians. thats all i have to say for now... and if im not too lazy while im still doing nothing, ill get back to this unlike the 100 others i left incomplete.

• Thomas B

  
  Funnyish. Full review later.

• Matt G

  
  Funny, and sad. Grade: A

• Albert K

  
  As always for all Judd Apatow movies, the screenplay is hilariously funny and witty. Many will say that this is Apatow's darker movie and is low on the amount of laughs, but within it is a non-Hollywood approach to portray and thoughtful and important message. I enjoyed this… More
  As always for all Judd Apatow movies, the screenplay is hilariously funny and witty. Many will say that this is Apatow's darker movie and is low on the amount of laughs, but within it is a non-Hollywood approach to portray and thoughtful and important message. I enjoyed this movie and some jokes hit the spot. I recommend watching this movie!

• Adam M

  
  Best cinematography of any comedy in a while. Some of the stand-up snippets are intended to be good, and the misses in there there are the movie's weak point. Eric Bana and Adam Sandler are very impressive, and Leslie Mann rivals the queens of screwball comedy with her character.… More
  Best cinematography of any comedy in a while. Some of the stand-up snippets are intended to be good, and the misses in there there are the movie's weak point. Eric Bana and Adam Sandler are very impressive, and Leslie Mann rivals the queens of screwball comedy with her character. Apatow is getting more observational and becoming a real artist, in addition to what he's always been -- which was already a noble achievement -- an artful purveyor of communal good will in the strained form we find it in real life.

• paul s

  
  A comedy film that tries oh so hard to be something more, Funny People straddles that fence, never consistently funny enough, while the deeper part of the script not only gets in the way of the humor, it's painted in very broad strokes and is constantly waring with the tone of… More
  A comedy film that tries oh so hard to be something more, Funny People straddles that fence, never consistently funny enough, while the deeper part of the script not only gets in the way of the humor, it's painted in very broad strokes and is constantly waring with the tone of the film. I suppose you would label this a romantic comedy, but it's certainly not a "chick film", as the main female protagonist is a hollow characature. Such lines as "I'll always love you, but he's my husband" Ouch! On the comedy side there are too many penis jokes (especially for a romantic comedy), and yet there are some truly laugh out loud moments (there's a long running riff concerning a tall Swedish doctor that includes "it took me four days to put together a chair I bought from you guys"). There are also some fun cameos - especially funny (as usual) was a brief riff by Sarah Silverman. I had heard that Sadler was excellent in this film, but I found his deadpan a bit disconcerting, and when he finally says something with conviction it seems way over the top. He's fine when he's doing his schtick, but otherwise.... I have to conclude that the premiss of the film was very interesting, but the direction could have been way tighter, leaving the end result something that would have been fun at 90 minutes, but certainly not worthy of 150. All the attempts to breath catharsis into Sandler's charactor seem a waste, and the final reconcilliation merely a feel-good tag ending.

• Spencer S

  
  Way too many penis jokes. Otherwise a decent, depressing portrayal of an alternate Adam Sandler, and comics in general. Very real, but not greatly executed.

• Lenny M

  
  The last two films that Apatow directed were amazing, usually everything he touches is a hit. This movie had a different direction continuing the serious tone that Apatow started grasping in Knocked Up. Adam Sandler in serious movies, or in any movie for that matter, is hit or miss.… More
  The last two films that Apatow directed were amazing, usually everything he touches is a hit. This movie had a different direction continuing the serious tone that Apatow started grasping in Knocked Up. Adam Sandler in serious movies, or in any movie for that matter, is hit or miss. He can either be completely hilarious or just plain awful. In Funny People, his performance is somewhere in the middle. Apatow's writing here isn't as strong as his former works. The comedy was one dimensional and the funniest parts in my opinion were the random cameos. I had high hopes for this film but it fell short mainly due to the writing and Adam Sandler's performance, both could have been stronger. Update: Sucks.

• Michael G

  
  Hmm. Well. There were people in this movie, just not too much of the funny. Anyone expecting the laugh-out-loud Apatow comedy from Funny People is going to be seriously disappointed. The movie starts off okay enough but once the best part of it (Sandler's mortality) gets wiped… More
  Hmm. Well. There were people in this movie, just not too much of the funny. Anyone expecting the laugh-out-loud Apatow comedy from Funny People is going to be seriously disappointed. The movie starts off okay enough but once the best part of it (Sandler's mortality) gets wiped away the last act is incredibly hard to give a shit about. The excessive amount of cameos are mildly amusing, the supporting cast for the most part is kind of just so what. I'm normally not a fan of Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen's really starting to wear on me but they worked pretty well together. Expect more of a drama with a bunch of secondary storylines with either convenient or no resolution and you should avoid disappointment.

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