Adam Sandler has been synonymous with low quality comedy for way too long. After a strong early career, things began to slide at the turn of the century, and cinematic sewage such as Click and Mr. Deeds turned audiences off. In comes Hollywood flavour of the moment Judd Apatow, Sandler’s old roommate, to direct him in Apatow’s ‘passion project’, Funny People.  

George (Sandler) is a top standup comedian-turned-star of low brow comedies. He’s also very unhappy, having taken groupies and money over family and friends. When George discovers he has a life-threatening disease, and may have little time left, he hires a young standup called Ira (Seth Rogen) to be his assistant. In this unusual employment arrangement the pair find friendship, and George begins to re-evaluate the way he has lived his life, particularly the one girl he let slip away, Laura (Leslie Mann).

The plot feels like it’s been chopped in two - the first ninety minutes deals with George’s illness, and Apatow’s love for standup comedy, the last hour with the relationship between him and Laura in an almost rom-com like set up. The split means it feels like you’re watching two different movies, just as well the well-written script keeps the pace swift even if there’s a lot of film to get through (two and a half hours for a comedy?).

There’s no denying the parallels between George and Sandler are blindingly apparent - naff movie choices, standup background, and all the pressures of A-list stardom. This should be the opportunity he needed to boost credibility, but instead it’s a mixed bag performance. He’s absolutely hilarious in places, particularly the standup. He also handles the serious scenes well; not Oscar-well, but he holds his own. Where it falls apart is the likeability of his character - he already has sympathy because he’s ill, but as the film goes on what were natural flaws becomes a touch irritating. Rogen turns out the same performance he always does (loveable oaf), but it fits as Apatow supplies him with plenty of funny scenes. A big standout is Jason Schwartzman, smarmy and hilarious as Ira’s irritatingly successful roommate, and Eric Bana as Laura’s husband.

So, Apatow’s latest is far too long, has a central character that is difficult to root for, and an unsatisfying climax. But through all this it still manages to have a lot of heart without getting corny; smutty laughs without going too far; and an engaging story despite the gargantuan running time. It’s a hundred thousand times better than any Sandler comedy of the past decade, and an entertaining tale from an adept filmmaker.

Funny People is out August 28. Watch the trailer below.