Funny People (2009)
Comedy, Drama |.
Funny People is a American black comedy-drama film written and directed by Judd Apatow, co-produced by Apatow Productions and Madison 23 Productions, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman. The film follows a famous comedian who is diagnosed with a terminal disease and tries to fix the relationships in his life while befriending an aspiring comedian. The film was released on July 31, 2009.
George Simmons is a middle-aged retired stand-up comedian turned movie star. Despite his wealth, he is disillusioned and depressed as most of his recent film work is low-brow and poorly received. He is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and offered an experimental treatment that has only an 8% chance of therapeutic response. Believing he is about to die, he returns to his roots of stand-up comedy.
Ira Wright is an aspiring stand-up comedian in his 20s who shares an apartment with his two best friends, Mark and Leo. Mark is a lead in his own TV comedy series and makes good money. Leo is a rising comedy star and guest star for a recurring role on Mark’s TV show. George meets Ira at a small comedy club and hires him as his assistant. Ira becomes one of George’s only close relationships. The two travel around the country, George hires Ira as his personal assistant and joke writer and opens for him in the big comedy clubs, often meeting with real life comedians who play themselves and talk about the business of comedy.
Director: Judd Apatow
Writer: Judd Apatow
Stars: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza
►Cast:
| Adam Sandler | … | George Simmons |
| Seth Rogen | … | Ira Wright |
| Leslie Mann | … | Laura |
| Eric Bana | … | Clarke |
| Jonah Hill | … | Leo Koenig |
| Jason Schwartzman | … | Mark Taylor Jackson |
| Aubrey Plaza | … | Daisy Danby |
| Maude Apatow | … | Mable |
| Iris Apatow | … | Ingrid |
| RZA | … | Chuck |
| Aziz Ansari | … | Randy |
| Torsten Voges | … | Dr. Lars |
| Allan Wasserman | … | Dr. Stevens |
| Rod Man | … | Rod Man |
| Wayne Federman | … | Comedy & Magic Manager |
| Mike O’Connell | … | MySpace Escort |
| James Taylor | … | James Taylor |
| Nicole Parker | … | Dawn |
| Nydia McFadden | … | Mandy |
| Andy Dick | … | Andy Dick |
| Charles Fleischer | … | Charles Fleischer |
| Nicol Paone | … | George’s Sister |
| George Coe | … | George’s Dad |
| Budd Friedman | … | Budd Friedman |
| Monty Hoffman | … | Monty Hoffman |
| Carol Leifer | … | Carol Leifer |
| Paul Reiser | … | Paul Reiser |
| Mark Schiff | … | Mark Schiff |
| George Wallace | … | George Wallace |
| Norm MacDonald | … | Norm MacDonald |
| Dave Attell | … | Dave Attell |
| Sarah Silverman | … | Sarah Silverman |
| Bryan Batt | … | George’s Agent |
| Maggie Siff | … | Rachel |
| Eminem | … | Eminem |
| Ray Romano | … | Ray Romano |
| Jon Brion | … | Jon Brion |
| Sebastian Steinberg | … | Sebastian Steinberg |
| James Gadson | … | James Gadson |
| Arshad Aslam | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Bo Burnham | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Miki Ishikawa | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Kenny Copeland Jr. | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Calvin Sykes | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Ca’Shawn Sims | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Mandi Kreisher | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Phillip Andre Botello | … | Yo Teach Cast Member |
| Carla Gallo | … | Miss Pruitt on Yo Teach |
| Ernest Thomas | … | Yo Teach Principal |
| Tonita Castro | … | Bonita |
| Carlos Andrade | … | Gardener |
| Steve Bannos | … | Deli Manager |
| Justin Long | … | Re-Do Guy |
| Lucas Astrom | … | College Guy with Camera (as Lucas Dick) |
| Tyler Spindel | … | College Guy with Camera |
| Deamor Yi | … | 8-Year-Old Girl Fan |
| Elaine Kao | … | Mom with Camera |
| King Kedar | … | Family with Camera |
| Andre Butler Jr. | … | Family with Camera |
| Tanya Acker | … | Family with Camera |
| Jarrett Grode | … | Magician |
| Qiana Chase | … | Chuck’s Wife |
| Tom Anderson | … | Tom Anderson |
| John Hartmann | … | Private Jet Pilot |
| Dave Rath | … | San Francisco Theatre Manager |
| Dan Harmon | … | Paparazzi at Medical Center |
| Brandon Cournoyer | … | Paparazzi at Medical Center |
| Kyle Kinane | … | Paparazzi at Medical Center |
| Mark Cohen | … | Emcee at Improv |
| Denise Meyerson | … | Deli Customer |
| Joanie Marx | … | Deli Customer |
| Adam J. Bernstein | … | Hot Dog-Eating Champion’s Son |
| Da’Vone McDonald | … | Hot Dog-Eating Co-Star |
| Orny Adams | … | Orny Adams |
| Al Lubel | … | Al Lubel |
| Jerry Minor | … | Jerry Minor |
| Eleanor Zee | … | George’s Mom |
| Ben Meyerson | … | George’s Brother-In-Law |
| Sammy Jack | … | George’s Young Nephew |
| Kim Taylor | … | Kim Taylor |
| Andrea Zonn | … | Andrea Zonn |
| Kate Markowitz | … | Kate Markowitz |
| Arnold McCuller | … | Arnold McCuller |
| Larry Goldings | … | Larry Goldings |
| Luis Conte | … | Luis Conte |
| Russ Kunkel | … | Russ Kunkel |
| Jimmy Johnson | … | Jimmy Johnson |
| Brad Grunberg | … | Comedy & Magic Club Audience |
| Brian Lally | … | Comedy & Magic Club Audience |
| Don Abernathy | … | Pedestrian |
| Jason Anthony | … | Comedy & Magic Club Audience |
| Leo Baligaya | … | Airport Traveler |
| Brett Ryan Bonowicz | … | Improv Audience Member |
| Michael Patrick Breen | … | Comedy Club Goer |
| Laura Mayes Byrnes | … | Comedy Club Patron |
| Jack Chevanty | … | Patron |
| James Chiello | … | Passenger |
| John Clerkin | … | Traveler in S.F. Airport |
| Clark Coffey | … | Fan |
| Zachary Culbertson | … | Boyfriend of Tall Blonde at the Airport |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia
