Funny People

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3:33

Funny People

R

Released Jul 31, 2009

2h 26m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

232 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

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Critics Consensus

Funny People features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow's most mature film to date.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

This is a smart movie, one that's very unexpected.

Rated: A-

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 5/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Laremy Legel

Film.com

Funny People is funny, moving, dramatic, and alternately hilarious. It's a bit like a stand-up dramedy.

Rated: B

May 6, 2011

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The humor is merely the setting for an affecting drama about comedians. Their material is endlessly amusing, and their chummy and sarcastic behavior toward one another riotous. Yet underneath that, Apatow emphasizes how the humor presents a façade.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

What the movie ends up saying is that some funny people will always be alone; their artistic strengths and their personal flaws are two sides of the same coin.

Rated: B

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Feels like it is both a love song and a tribute to Apatow's life journey and the people in it through their joys, sorrows, quirks and idiosyncracies.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 8, 2020

Full Review

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Francis M

Definitely recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Prob one of Jude Apatows best movie & best comedies of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

Full Review

M B

It's the oddest thing when a really good movie is made, and then, they just forget to end it, so the actors stay on the screen and keep going. Really, this is what happened with this movie. A really good, interesting plot, with Adam Sandler basically playing himself, and a supporting cast of everyone who was funny at the time. A touching story, and you really care about everyone, and then, the plot is resolved and then... The movie just keeps going. So weird. If you just stop watching it at the 90 minute mark, you're good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Larry K

A different take on the usual Adam Sandler movie. Still kicks ass

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

Sanad A

When Sympathy Turns to Confusion It's hard to fathom Judd Apatow's intentions. Is this meant to be a serious comedy? Adam Sandler takes center stage in this bewildering endeavor. He delivers his best performance yet, but the character he portrays is, to be honest, quite unpleasant. This individual has achieved fame and fortune, yet lacks any depth of character. He is a lazy, ignorant, foolish, self-pitying, spoiled, uneducated, and dim-witted individual, and the list goes on. What's strange is that the story is structured in a way that suggests we should sympathize with him, even relate to his situation. At the start of the film, he is told he has a fatal disease, but miraculously he recovers, and then we are subjected to another hour of the movie where new characters are introduced. I wanted to flee the theater and scream. There are a few humorous moments, and Jason Schwartzman and Eric Bana deliver strong performances. However, could someone please explain to me, what on earth was this?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Steve O

Star Spangled - "seriously funny" look at what comedy is - thought provoking about what relationships mean - values, priorities, life, and avoided cliches.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/17/23

Full Review

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Judd Apatow

Director

Adam Sandler

George Simmons

Seth Rogen

Ira

Leslie Mann

Laura

Eric Bana

Clarke

Jonah Hill

Leo

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Funny People: Official Clip - Marginally Famous

2:18

Funny People: Official Clip - Terrifying Accent

2:11

Funny People: Official Clip - The Myspace Show

2:56

Funny People: Official Clip - Celebrating George's Recovery

2:50

Funny People: Official Clip - Eminem Hates Raymond

1:24

Funny People: Official Clip - George's Toast

1:31

Funny People: Official Clip - Ira Cries at Lunch

2:18

Funny People: Official Clip - Kill Me

2:14

Funny People: Official Clip - Clarke vs. George vs. Ira

2:49

Funny People: Official Clip - Randy Kills It

1:13

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Funny People: Trailer 1

3:33

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Synopsis

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

Director: Judd Apatow
Producer: Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Clayton Townsend
Screenwriter: Judd Apatow
Distributor: Universal
Production Co: Apatow Company, Madison 23
Rating: R (Language|Crude Sexual Humor|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.8M
Runtime: 2h 26m

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