  
Funny PeopleMPAA Rating:
 for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality.Reviewed by: Daniel Thompson Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Comedy, Drama
Length:
2 hr. 16 min.
Year of Release:
2009
USA Release:
July 31, 2009 (wide—3,000 theaters)
DVD: November 24, 2009   
Relevant Issues
Death in the Bible NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES—Who is the being of light encountered in near-death experiences? Answer Where did cancer come from? Answer How did bad things come about? Answer Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer What about the issue of suffering? Doesn't this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer Does God feel our pain? Answer What kind of world would you create? Answer
Judd Apatow movies tend to be somewhat of a double-edged sword. For those unfamiliar with his work as a director, his two previous films include “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” Both of these films earn their “R” ratings with extreme language and sexual content, but they also carry messages that are hard to find in movies these days. From the theme of abstinence to the beauty and wonder of life through birth, it's confounding to see such pure themes in films accompanied by unadulterated smut. With his third effort, “Funny People,” Apatow once again provides us with a mixed bag of a movie that contains enough extreme content to keep most discerning Christians away, but also a deep and powerful message about selfishness, relationships, and the finite nature of life itself. The story centers around comedian/movie star George Simmons, played marvelously by Adam Sandler. George has everything a man could ever want: a huge house, tons of money, and people waiting on him hand and foot. George is diagnosed with a rare form of Lukemia, one that is almost undoubtedly fatal. He realizes through this revelation that while he has money, fame, and fortune, he has no one close to him, and thus he decides to keep his disease a secret. He befriends by chance an unknown comedian named Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), and hires him to be his assistant. A friendship buds between Ira and Georg, and they battle his disease together. Ira encourages George to reveal his disease to others, which forces George to reconnect with his family and his lost love from years past, who's now married with kids. After doing this, much to his surprise, George finds out that he has beaten his disease, and the experimental medicine he's been taking has cured him. One would think that an experience such as this one would refocus George's life. After staring certain death in the face and coming out of it unscathed, he would realize the importance of people, family, and the need for love in his life. That's not the case. George easily falls back into the same traps of success and tries to use his new lease on life for personal gain. He's even willing to break up a family, if it means getting his old girl back. It takes another loss in George's life, along with some straight talk from his friend Ira, to help George see how his selfishness has grabbed hold of his life and kept him isolated from everyone who wanted to be a part of his life. While the previous paragraphs may portray a deep and moving film, it is unfortunately only half of the story. As with his previous movies, Apatow decides that his story isn't good enough on its own, but needs a steady stream of coarse language and sexual content to make it more realistic to the lifestyle of a comedian. While I appreciate this improvisational style of comedy, the material on display here makes “Funny People” completely inappropriate, as well as inaccessible for most all audiences. It really is a shame, too, because a clean version of this film looks a lot like the parable of the rich fool from Luke 12:13-21, except with redemption. It's not a major transformation, but the film ends with a completely selfless act on the part of George Simmons. Just like the man from the parable who builds bigger store houses for his crops and goods, George Simmons was a man who had stocked up on money, cars, and material possessions only to finally realize their worthlessness. A small selfless act symbolizes a big life change for George. But this massive message is buried beneath a mountain of garbage, and there's not much funny about that. Violence: Minor / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Extreme See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Positive
Positive - "Funny People" is an amazing film. I have seen 29 films released this year, and this one is #4 on my list. That is to say, it'll definitely finish the year in the Top 10 (and I mostly stick to the well-made movies, having become skilled at avoiding the movies I won't like). It may not reach the heights of Judd Apatow's directorial debut "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," but it is better than "Knocked Up" (which is saying a good deal), and it is definitely the most mature of the lot. But it seems unfair to say "Funny People" isn't as "good" as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" because they are entirely different movies. You see, "Funny People" isn't a comedy. Many people were expecting a comedy, and they hated that they didn't get one. Negative
Negative - My husband and I went to this movie because we like Adam Sandler as an actor, and we thought it would be funny. We usually don't see “R” rated movies. The reviews we read beforehand said “some sexuality, language and crude sexual humor,” so I was thinking maybe a little more language than a “PG-13.” In the first 20 minutes of the movie they used the “F” word about every 4 words or so and just kept using it freely throughout. Negative - I thought this would be a funny movie, and it could have been without all the completely vulgar language and sexual talk. It was disgusting how many references were made to the male genitalia and even to men having sex with men. I was hoping that things would improve with the story, but it only got worse. Even my friends who are not Christian were surprised at the vulgarity of this film. It was a complete waste of time and a sad commentary on what people are willing to accept for entertainment. Negative - Are you kidding me? I found nothing “redeeming” about this poor attempt of a "message movie", although I stuck it out to the bitter, boring end in hopes that the horribly gratuitous profanity might end in some positive message. Instead, the ending was wasted on some poor (and unsuccessful) attempt at a “redemption” message. Comments from young people
Negative - Overall, I thought this movie was wayyyy too long (HOW HAS NOBODY MENTIONED THAT YET OH MY GOODNESS), and it was not very funny, along with the rest of the recent Seth Rogen movies. But I will get back to that later. First, I think it is absolutely hilarious that so called "die-hard Sandler fans" are complaining about the amount of vulgarity. Are you kidding me? Have you seen any of his movies? If you go to an R-rated comedy in 2009 with big name actors, EXPECT vulgarity. Don't act all confused about it, that is just foolish. Anyways, there was tons of cursing. It doesn't really bother me too much anymore, it is just disappointing that so many writers have to rely on cursing and sex for a good laugh. But hey, at least this wasn't "The Hangover"... thank God. |
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