Funny People (R, 2009)

After the anarchic fun of Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, writer-director Judd Apatow's third film is a fascinating series of contrasts -- a look at the seemingly trivial world of stand-up comedy, a potty-mouthed meditation on life and death, a seemingly familiar story that takes several unexpected deviations. Yes, FUNNY PEOPLE is long (two hours and 20 minutes), but it's also strong -- funny, rich, real, and messy. Part of that comes in both how the film hews close to the actors' real lives (Sandler as a multimillionaire comedian renowned for lowbrow high-concept films is hardly a stretch) and the ways in which it doesn't (George is an unmarried man-child, while Sandler is a married father of two). Rogen -- a successful, talented comedian in real life -- pulls off a particularly tricky acting job by conveying the nerves and neuroses of an unsuccessful, struggling one.

Funny People looks like a show business melodrama, and it is -- but it's also a little more. It offers a look at the messy nature of getting old and getting tired, at how easy it is to think that big gestures will change our lives -- as opposed to small, incremental efforts. Funny People has plenty of gags and laughs, but it's also much smarter -- and much more serious -- about what's behind the laughter than you might think.