Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality.
Directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-year-old Virgin)
Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Eric Bana
Funny People should have been called Vulgar People.
George is a very successful standup comedian who learns that he has an untreatable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live. Ira is a struggling up-and-coming standup comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona. One night, these two perform at the same club and George takes notice of Ira. George hires Ira to be his semi-personal assistant as well as his friend.
The combination of Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow is like the perfect storm of vulgar comedy…and that’s exactly what you get in Funny People. I don’t think there was a single scene that didn’t make me cringe. Between the dialogue, “jokes” and actual sex scenes it’s safe to say Funny People is a Raunch-fest.
That’s too bad because I actually loved the story line and the characters. Seth Rogen is pretty good as the verbally abused moral compass…yeah Seth Rogen is the moral compass. His character, as flawed as he is, does do a great job of forgiving George and being a friend.
And Adam Sandler plays a “normal” role as the self absorbed comedian who gets his wake-up call in the doctor’s office. He begins to change until he finds out all is well and he immediately goes back to being a jerk. There seems to be a redemption story tucked in the final minutes of the film but those good qualities are like a band-aid on a severed limb…it just isn’t good enough. It’s a “Coaster.”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Ummm…nope.
Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
