Adam Sander's entire career has been a mixed bag for me, he usually plays the loser who pushes everyone around him away, usually a broke (insert job here) character who learns something toward the end. In Judd Apatow's 2009 "Dramady" we see him hand the reigns down to new kike's on the block Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill.
Playing a rich, famous and succesful Stand-up Comedian, living the American dream with his big house, piles of money and oodles of free time, all built from the hard work and determination it takes to be a comic, George Simmons (Sandler) seems like a character we won't have much synpathy for. Until that is, he comes down with an unfortunate case of plot point, which leads him to have rethink his life, and how he see's those around him. Along for the Ride is Ira (Rogen), a struggling new comedian trying to get his break. Simmons hires him to write material, and he slowly becomes his sole human companion as he deals with the life he's lead and the inevitiability of death. The film gleefully takes it's time strolling through it's 2 1/2 hour running time, and doesn't give you the "predictable ending" you thought it would.
Apatow has worked with Sandler and Rogen on many a "bro-mance" and finally seems to have struck what audiences can relate to. Heart. The Sandlers lonely comic "George Simmons" invites you to think about him, and feel sorry for him, something Judd hasn't got a charactet to do before now. Some strong performances and well timed humour, as well as an array of guest stars (including Andy Dick, Paul Rudd and... Eminem?) that are seen only in the peripheral, and never step on the toes of the main story. The main problem is that this is virgin terratory for Apataw, and the strong performances and at times, great dialogue can't stop the sagging second act pulling the whoke feature down.
Overall, a moving and enthralling effort from the Apataw movie generator, Bromance's with heart are hard to come by. Funny People, Shows us the difficulties success and wealth brings us while remembering to make us laugh, it's worth your attention. 7/10
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