Funny People

Okay, so they're "Funny People," but not very...

Adam Sandler is a former stand-up comic who seems to be entertaining aspirations to be an actor...witness "Reign Over Me." His one-time roommate Judd Apatow is a writer/director ("Superbad," "Pineapple Express" and "40-Year-Old Virgin) who is the King of Raunchy Comedy in Hollywood right now. He even has the nerve to cast his wife Leslie Mann ("17 Again" and "Knocked Up") and daughters Maude and Iris ("Knocked Up") in starring roles and they do a good job!

Sandler/Apatow together are able to make a casting call to just about everyone in Hollywood and they will show up! This time we see an astonishing number of stand-up comics doing cameos. In my opinion however, the best cameo was done by Eminem ("8 Mile"), who is a rapper, NOT a comic.

Sandler has specialized in those man/boy roles that currently are all the rage, but this time out, we are seeing what "happily ever after" looks like when a comic has finally achieved fame and fortune. His character lives in solitary splendor in a palatial estate, complete with a diligent domestic staff, limos, private jets, etc., but his melancholy life is lonely and he is troubled by insomnia.

In a nutshell, Sandler's character is told he has a terminal illness. He has no one in his life, so he hires a neophyte stand-up comic to write for him but quickly turns him into a gofer, a confidante, and his only friend. He isn't a bad person, but he is withdrawn and is completely tone deaf when it comes to personal relationships and feelings.

Our newly hired Jack Of All Trades is played by a recently slimmed-down Seth Rogan ("Knocked Up" and "Superbad") whose character seems to be a semi-decent guy. In that statement lies my quandary: There is no one to root for. Maybe "The One Who Got Away" (Leslie Mann)? or maybe not... There are bits that are very well acted but then again, there are others... There are funny bits but they are few and far between...

This is a raunchy sit-down comedy about raunchy stand-up comedy, so it deserves its "R" rating. From my own perspective, I guess it's memorable because they finally found a role in which Eric Bana ("Star Trek" and "Troy") is NOT attractive! I never thought I'd see the day...sob...