Sandler, Rogen poke at the 'Funny' side of death

Rogen, Sandler, Mann

He's the current king of box office comedy, yet there are nearly as many questions as expectations swirling around Judd Apatow's Funny People.

The film that opens Friday is being seen in some circles as the closest thing to an autobiographical work, even though Apatow said last week on NPR that the links aren't quite so straight or strict. But it does mark his first attempt at combining elements of drama, tragedy and comedy deliberately within the same framework.

It also stars former roommate Adam Sandler (from his brief unsuccessful days as a standup comic) and current main star and fast friend Seth Rogen. They play the odd couple of George Simmons (Sandler) and Ira Wright (Rogen) who meet in a comedy club under difficult circumstances.

Simmons has been diagnosed as having an incurable blood disease and given less than one year to live. Wright admires him and winds up basically waiting on him hand and foot in a situation that's uncomfortably close to being exploitative, yet with humorous aspects due to the ineptitude of both parties.

Apatow throws some twists and stunts into the narrative, including a blockbuster development near the end that completely turns everything on its head. There's also a romantic complication that involves Leslie Mann, and the presence of other comics, musicians and performers.

A bunch of big names, among them Dave Attell, Sarah Silverman, Norm MacDonald, Andy Dick, Ray Romano, Eminem and James Taylor make cameos.

To ensure authenticity and thematic flow, Apatow filmed Sandler and Rogen's routines in front of live audiences and even gave them full freedom to change and/or create lines they felt more comfortable saying. Plus, though Apatow edited down the live segments to fit the film, they were shot as complete stand-up performances. The footage will no doubt show up in special or director's cut DVDs.

He also issued two different trailers, went on a major promotional campaign and even had the film be the focus of two separate Comedy Central programs last week. Apatow is said to be a bit concerned about the film's length (145 minutes), though reportedly his original plan was for a three-hour plus opus.

No one should be concerned that Apatow is suddenly turning serious, or that there won't be ample slapstick and physical comedy in Funny People. But it will be perhaps the first time in his current rise to fame that Apatow does try not only to intentionally make people laugh, but also to think, wonder and maybe even shed a tear or two.

Funny People
Written, directed and produced by: Judd Apatow
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogin, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Aziz Ansari
Time: 145 minutes
Rating: R