Funny People

Funny People Quick Thoughts: Tough, uncompromising and filled with uncomforting moments and borderline detestable characters, next to dealing with all the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Neanderthals the most intense debates I got into all summer were over Judd Apatow's Funny People. Starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, this dramatic jaunt into the lives and times of standup comedians made me laugh out loud while at the same time it broke my heart. Its poignant saga touched me quite deeply.
Apatow and company do not apologize for their characters' shortcomings, painting a picture of creation, stardom, love and friendship that cuts right to the jugular. Just because Sandler's George Simmons finds himself at Death's doorstep doesn't mean he's going to change his narcissistic ways, and finding out if he will becomes one of the film's many pleasures. Great supporting turns by Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman »
- Sara Michelle Fetters

Read the full article on ropeofsilicon.com

Judd Apatow had a hot streak, and it was bound to run into some bumps. That’s the industry; people are always waiting for failure. Instead - though it didn’t connect theatrically - Funny People is not a bad film, it’s a character study that has some problems when it transitions from one protagonist to another, but you can tell Apatow is trying to stretch his muscles. This may make it more interesting than good, but it’s definitely worth a look. My review of Funny People after the jump.
George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is a Sandler-like movie star who finds out he has a form of leukemia. Faced with the possibility of dying, he goes to a comedy club and does a terrible set as he works through his issues. Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) witnesses it, and has a run-in with George. Then George calls Ira and offers him a job, »
- Andre Dellamorte

Read the full article on collider.com

Now that must have been one damn successful breakfast meeting. Apparently, comedian Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation, Human Giant) and director Jason Woliner (Human Giant, Players) recently sat down for breakfast with Judd Apatow and pitched him three ideas for future projects. To their surprise, Apatow wanted all three. Having worked together on Human Giant and Parks and Recreation, I can just imagine what a feature length project from Ansari and Woliner would look like. The first, tentatively titled Let's Do This, is "a road movie about two guys who work for a motivational speaking company." The second stars Ansari as a disgrced cosmonaut who's forced to return to space. The third apparently came out of Ansari's role in Funny People, although I don't suspect that we'll be getting a Raaaaaaaandy film. Woliner will also be directing all of the films. Little else is known about the films, Ansari explains »
- Devindra Hardawar

Read the full article on slashfilm.com