Funny People

The combination of writer-director Judd Apatow and his old roommate Adam Sandler proves to be a good one with the ambitious Funny People. Apatow’s third film as director is his most adventurous one, giving old friend Sandler a chance to truly act as opposed to the unabashed mugging of his recent films. It’s Sandler’s best acting since Punch-Drunk Love, and a more serious mode for Apatow, who proves he can be as emotionally powerful as he is funny. Sandler plays a comedian turned actor who finds out he’s dying, and Seth Rogen plays the wannabe standup hired to help him out. Sandler’s character sets out to make things right with the people in his life, especially “the one who got away.” This is probably Apatow’s best film yet, so it’s no surprise that it’s not doing so well at the box office. Sandler, Rogen and Jonah Hill prove they are decent standup comedians.