"Funny People" brings the laughs

Ira (Seth Rogan) and George (Adam Sandler), sporting a Kentucky Wildcats shirt, talk humorously to a doctor in "Funny People" (Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

When Judd Apatow directs and writes a movie, it is sure to be a hit. With his only flop being producer of the quasi-Johnny Cash comedy "Walk Hard" (now a cult classic on DVD), Apatow's golden touch in Hollywood has been nothing short of amazing. His smart, witty and hilarious writing make his films enjoyable from beginning to end. For his third film, Apatow reunites with Seth Rogen and teams him up with a comedy legend in his own right: Adam Sandler.

Sandler is no stranger to the dramatic side. In P.T. Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love," Sandler played a guy who was tired of settling for the void in his pathetic life and finds love with Emily Watson. In "Reign Over Me," his greatest and most powerful role to date, Sandler plays a man who loses his wife and two daughters on September 11 and how he's trying to cope with this loss after finding friendship with an old college roommate.

This time, Sandler is playing aging comedian George Simmons, a very successful yet self-involved stand-up comedian who learns that he has an incurable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live. Ira Wright (Weiner is his actual last name) (Rogen) is a struggling up-and-coming stand-up comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona. One thing these different men have in common is that neither of them have any close friends. One night, George takes notice of Ira when they perform at the same club and he hires him to be his semi-personal assistant and opening act at his performances. George and Ira form a close bond as George teaches Ira how to win the crowd and Ira helps the dying George find closure in his legacy. However, when George learns that his disease has gone into remission and an old flame (Leslie Mann) reenters his life, his recent near death experience inspires him to reevaluate what is important to him and what truly gives meaning to his life.

The Good

• Rogen and Sandler had really good chemistry in this movie. Very funny performances.
  
• The stand-up comedy was genius. The only part of the movie not written by Apatow were the stand-up scenes. Great writing and routines.
  
• Cameos by some famous Hollywood stars like Eminem, Ray Romano and especially James Taylor make this movie even more funny.
  
• Eric Bana stole the show as the Aussie husband of George's old flame. His hilarious antics really made the movie laugh out loud funny.
  

The Bad

• Apatow's first movie since the 2007 comedy hit "Knocked Up," the story in this film was great up until it turned to the direction of every single movie made about a man who regrets a decision in his life regarding a woman. It never ends well no matter how many times you do it.
  
• Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman were really not that funny. All the good clips from them can be seen in the preview.
  

Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars - Apatow still makes a great movie despite the story bombing towards the end. Sandler was spot on and had his best role in quite some time. Worth the price of admission.