Funny People - An Inside Look

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Funny People - Featurette - Adam Sandler's return to stand up

Adam Sandler talks with Judd Apatow about his career and his return to stand up comedy after a 10 year break.

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Funny People - Trailer

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) has shown that nothing—not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth—is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!" Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience. Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

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George Simmons in Re-Do, Dog's Best Friend and Seyonara Dave

Craig, a workaholic lawyer, never made time for his relationships. Alone and depressed on his 40th birthday, he wonders about the life he could have lead. But be careful what you wish for...you might just find yourself in diapers! When a wizard gives Craig a second chance at his youth, he discovers that sometimes it takes becoming a baby to learn how to be a man.

George Simmons in "Re-Do" from Justin Long

These are a spoof films from Judd Apatow's Funny People. Adam Sandler plays George Simmons the comedian turned actor and the film will feature posters and clips for films he has made. An awful lot of work is going into this film. I just hope it is good.

GeorgeSimmons.com has more info on the fictional star.

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Classic Scene - Steve Buscemi is the better man - The Wedding Singer

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Yo Teach...! Viral for Judd Apatow's Funny People

Upscale Font Part of the viral marketing for Funny People with an electronic press kit of Mark Taylor Jackson (Jason Schwartzman). High school is tough enough without the added distractions of drug abuse, teen pregnancy and anorexia. Fortunately for the colorful underachievers at Jackson High, theres a teacher whos got their back: Mr. Bradford (Mark Taylor Jackson), the wise-cracking mentor of Yo Teach...! Each week, Mr. Bradford tosses his lesson plan to the wind and tackles a new moral dilemma while keeping one step ahead of Principal Andrews and the politically correct PTA.

Written and directed by Judd Apatow
Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, and Eric Bana

Due out on 31st July 2009

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The Shortcut - Horror Trailer

This film is from Adam Sandler's new Horror production company, Scary Madison. No, I'm not joking that's what it is called.

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Funny People - First TV Spot for Judd Apatow's new film.

Some new footage in this TV spot. The film is due out on 31st July.

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Don Johnson loves the Porn

Don Johnson will play a mustached porn director in the comedy Born to Be a Star for Sony Pictures and Happy Madison says The Hollywood Reporter.

Nick Swardson is starring as a small-town nerd who learns his quiet and demure parents were famous porn stars in the 1970s. This motivates him to leave northern Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps and fulfill his destiny as the biggest adult-film star in the world.

Johnson plays a down-on-his-luck director who discovers Swardson and gives him a shot. Christina Ricci stars as Swardson's innocent girlfriend and Stephen Dorff as adult film star Dick Shadow.

Tom Brady is directing from a script co-written by Adam Sandler and Swardson. Sandler and Jack Giarraputo will produce.

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Born to be A Star - Adam Sandler and Christina Ricci go Porn

Christina Ricci will star in the porn-themed comedy Born to Be a Star that Adam Sandler co-wrote and is producing with Jack Giarraputo. Tom Brady is directing.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story centers on a small-town nerd who stumbles upon a family secret that his quiet and demure parents were famous porn stars in the 1970s. This motivates him to leave Northern Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps and fulfill his destiny as the biggest adult-film star in the world.

Ricci, the female lead, is the guy's innocent girlfriend.


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Salma Hayek to star in new Adam Sandler film

JoBlo.com has learned that Hayek has signed on for a role in the new Adam Sandler film that's tentatively titled Lake House.

Hayek will star along with Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schnieder, Chris Rock and Kevin James in the film, which revolves around a group of high school friends who reunited in their hometown. Hayek would play Sandler's wife in the film and the site is also reporting that Norm MacDonald and Steve Buscemi have signed onto much smaller roles in the film. It was said the film would be similar to The Big Chill, but more comedic.

Sandler is co-writing the film with Fred Wolf and Dennis Dugan would direct.

Another Adam Sandler film? Are you excited? Looks like he's getting the gang back together with this one. I love Steve Buscemi's cameo in Billy Madison. Great stuff.

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Funny People - Trailer for Judd Apatow's latest starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen

Judd Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

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UPDATED: The Green Hornet Lives and Adam Sandler could be joining him

There was a rumour knocking about the other day that The Green Hornet was being put to sleep by Sony.

However, a recent update from the film's writer and star, Seth Rogen, shows that rumor is not true.

Rogen contacted HitFix and told them that Sony still has every intention of making it.

"[The studio heads] have every intention on making it, and assuming we're able to hire a new director in the upcoming weeks, which seems like a distinct possibility, it should still hit the release date,"

Not only is he starring in the film and co-writing it, but he's also producing, which means he is in the know as to what will happen.

So it looks like Sony is still going ahead with The Green Hornet and they're trying to find a new director. And according to AICN, it looks like Stephen Chow also still remains attached as Kato.

UPDATE: The LA Times says that Adam Sandler will be taking on “a brief but key role in the movie as a certain surprise superhero.” I've no idea who that could be. Maybe The Shadow or Doc Savage maybe?

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Funny People - Poster for Judd Apatow's latest

Adam Sandler plays a 42-year old comic named George Simmons. He’s had a good run, and even had a nice movie career. He has everything you could want: an expensive car, a big house, and a great sense of humor. The women want him and the guys want to be his friend. He knows a lot of people but has no close friends, probably because he’s a very miserable and self-involved person. One day he learns that he has a rare untreatable blood disorder, and only has six months to a year left to live. This is the the beginning of the film.

Seth Rogen plays Ira, a 25-year-old deli counter worker and aspiring stand-up comedian who performs for free at a small LA stand-up club. He’s yet to figure out his stage persona, and his friends don’t even come to his shows for support. His jokes are pretty much what you might expect. Imagine what Seth Rogen would sound like if he were a stand-up comedian.

Ira lives with two roommates, an aspiring comedian who has just been accepted to become an Improv regular named Leo (Jonah Hill) , and a sitcom star who likes to gloat about his newfound salary named Mark (Jason Schwartzman).

One night Ira gets bumped when George shows up unannounced at his club, pushing Ira’s performance. Ira ends up bombing, but Simmons sees something in the young comedian and hires him to write jokes and be his semi-personal assistant. George becomes a quasi-mentor to Ira, basically playing him $6000 a month for his company/friendship. George also gives Ira an opportunity to open up for him at various gigs.

This is the meat of the film, a story of two people connecting with each other - an aspiring young comedian and a dying middle aged comedian who now has the power of hindsight. But does George learn anything from his near death experience and newfound friendship with Ira or is he still his old self-centered self?

George confides in Ira that he’s dying, and Ira eventually convinces George to tell people about his illness. I’ve heard that Norm Macdonald has a cameo as one of George’s old Comedian friends.

And there is Laura (played by Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann), the love of his life, now in her late 30’s, married with two kids. Laura broke up with George over a decade earlier when she learned that he was cheating on her. Once an actress, Laura has become a full-time bored and some-what depressed mother, living in a ranch home in a small town. Laura and George reconnect when she learns of his illness.

Much fuss was made of Eric Bana’s comedy past when the casting announcement was first made, but Bana actually doesn’t have a comic role in the film. Bana plays Laura’s successful husband Clarke, who is always traveling to China on business. It is also worth noting that Bana doesn’t appear until late into the film. You can probably see where that storyline might be heading, so I’ll say no more.

Meanwhile, Ira meets a young alternative comic named Daisy (Aubrey Plaza), who also lives in his apartment building. He asks her out on a date but before it happens, Ira makes a discovery that could be detrimental to their possible relationship. It feels like Apatow is trying to inject some Kevin Smith into the story, but it’s not developed enough. Daisy is one-dimensional, and the relationship seems a bit forced and unnecessary.

There are twists and turns, a confrontation between Ira and his roommates, and a climax set as far outside the world of stand-up comedy as you can get. Funny People is very different tonally than anything Apatow has done before. For example, there is a moment where Ira and George have a conversation, which ends with both of them in tears. The film will probably better classified as a dramedy than a full out comedy. Apatow might have a shot at Academy Award consideration if he does this right.

Source: /film
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Best Fight Scene Ever Part 8 - Happy Gilmore fights Bob Barker

Happy Gilmore is playing a round of celebrity golf with Bob Barker. Things don't go Happy's way until he can't take anymore...

What do you think of that fight?

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You Don't Mess With the Zohan, 2008 - Movie Review

Director: Dennis Dugan

Starring: Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui

Score: 7 / 10

This review by Dick Steel.

Comedies go up against each other at the local box office, with Adam Sandler squaring off against Steve Carell, and incidentally, both lead characters in their movies are of the spy / special forces kind, with Sandler's Zohan Dvir being the top Israeli counter-terrorist operative, and Carell's Maxwell Smart thinking he's the best, working for the CONTROL organization to bring down KAOS. Just which agent will outdo the other remains to be seen, but I thought Zohan had opportunity before throwing it away when it goes back to the usual sacharrine sweet ending with a nicely inserted moral message of peace and harmony.

Directed by Dennis Dugan who helmed comedies like The Benchwarmers and the recent Adam Sandler movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess With The Zohan has its title come across as a warning to those who cross the Zohan's path. In every sense of the word, Zohan is Israel's #1 superhero for his superhuman strength, speed, agility, and just about being as indestructible as Superman, without that heat ray bursting through his eyes. Having killed many in his lifetime, he seeks a life away from the glitz, glamour and hero worship in his homeland, and harbours a secret desire to style hair, with the ambition to make the world Silky Smooth!

Going up against his arch-enemy The Phantom (John Turturro), he fakes his own death, and finds his way to New York, where under a pseudonym Scrappy Coco, he exhibits the much stereotyped mannerisms that all male hairdressers have broken wrists. Yes people, Zohan would be quite offensive to some, as the jokes come hard and fast when it comes to race (there are tons of Arab jokes here, mostly putting them in bad light), politics (even wives of prominent politicians are unspared) and plenty of sexual inneundoes, perhaps no thanks to the writing input from Judd Apatow, who gave us flicks like Superbad (super-sized dong anyone?), 40-Year Old Virgin, and the likes. If you don't mind politically incorrect flicks, then Zohan would be right up your alley, where no orifice is sacred.

So has Sandler sunk to a new low? Perhaps not, but I think he's in need of a boost to his career, which seemed to have stagnated with fairly plain comedic flicks such as Longest Yard and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and even Click, perhaps being loaded with a tad bit of drama and feel good messages. And it doesn't really help when personally I still think that Spanglish was his best non-comedic work which stuck to me, for some reason. He tries to reinvent himself, but I feel he's still quite a distance away from peers like Mike Myers who comes up with crazy characters every now and then (am looking forward to the troubled and controversial Love Guru), and even Sacha Baron Cohen (whom I'm looking forward to his Bruno).

Here, Sandler's Zohan relies on both his amazing prowess to bring down the bad guys, as well as his over-sized crotch to seduce plus sized and elderly women who come visit him for a haircut, and extra special services he dishes out. Granted they bring on the laughs, and there were some really genuine funny moments to compensate for some expected laughs on the horizon. But aside from that, the story's pretty much lost its direction after the mid-way point, where it couldn't decide whether to be an all out romance flick, with Zohan getting stiff for his salon owner Dalia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), or to focus on the aged old dispute between the two cultures where fellow immigrants and enemies find out his true identity, and revive their aged old feud in a foreign land. There were some bewildering scenes that seemed to have, like the mentioned threads, been abandoned halfway, for example, with the rallying of troops to the game of Hacky Sack.

Nonetheless, what's an Adam Sandler movie without the list of cameo appearances to spice things up? Here you get Rob Schneider who makes regular cameo or supporting character appearances in a Sandler movie, together with Chris Rock, Mariah Carey who hams up her Diva status, Kevin James his co-star from Chuck and Larry, and even George Takei, whom I thought was a strange cameo given that he just came out of the closet recently, and gets himself involved in a somewhat homophobic scene.

You Don't Mess With The Zohan doesn't always hit the mark, but it surely has enough moments in its close to 2 hour runtime to make it worthwhile to sit through and enjoy. Only if you prefer your comedy to be politically incorrect, of course.

P.S. Am just wondering how many will emulate that crazy accented "Nononono".

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