What’s so ‘Funny’?

Don’t completely believe the upbeat trailers, because these Funny People are also serious. Comedy writer/director du jour Judd Apatow gets real with this, his third film set in the world of stand-up comedy. Funny People stars Adam Sandler as a comic who may be facing a rare, terminal disease. If you enjoy serious Sandler as seen in Reign Over Me and Punch-Drunk Love, you’ll recognize and even gravitate toward this kind of performance from him. I mean, who wants a sequel to You Don’t Mess with the Zohan? Apatow regular Seth Rogen plays Sandler’s opening act comedian who becomes his best pal though the hard times. Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Jason Schwartzman co-star. Rated R. (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)