Funny People

Writer/director Judd Apatow has done it again, even better, in FUNNY PEOPLE, his take on what makes a particular comedian tick.  In this case, Apatow's long-time friend, Adam Sandler, plays famous comedian George Simmons, who long ago segued from stand-up to dumb-looking but money-making movies.  Lost and bored with his ostentatious lifestyle, filled with things but no people, George learns he has a potentially lethal form of leukemia. He decides to go back to stand-up.

Seth Rogen plays Ira, a would-be comic and current deli worker, who follows George onstage at a comedy club tryout.  George hires Ira as his personal assistant and possible joke-writer.

The movie is about a lot of things: friendship, mentoring, facing death, reflecting on life choices...It also has a lot of very funny bits, including in the blur of cameo appearances by comics new and old, mostly with very very dark blue--call it indigo--humor.  You'll lose count of the male anatomy jokes.  

Rich and complicated, FUNNY PEOPLE is a triumph.