Funny People

If you were told you were going to die, what would you do?

For funny guy George Simmons (Adam Sandler), this is reality. The famous actor/ comedian is told that he has a rare blood disorder and chances of recovery are slim to none. A very egocentric person, George doesn’t know how to take the news. I mean, would you?

George falls back into stand up comedy, performing some dark material that his fans aren't used to. So one night, following his act is Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), an up and coming comic who completely looks up to George. As the crowd fell silent from George's ominous set, Ira completely makes fun of him to get the crowd going again.

So what does George do? He hires Ira to be his personal assistant. In other words, "Sit next to me while I fall asleep, write my jokes and be my little bitch" kind of personal assistant. Ira takes the job, not realizing what he's getting himself into. But then, life suddenly becomes pretty sweet for Ira, a kid who sleeps on his friends couch because he can't make ends meet from doing his occasional ten minute stand up routine while working at a deli.

Of course, his two roommates Leo (Jonah Hill), also a stand up comic/ actor, and Mark (Jason Schwartzman), a cocky actor on a bad sitcom called "Yo Teach!" who 'on occasion' leaves his $25,000 paycheck laying around the house for his roommates to see, are jealous that their once impoverished friend is now living the good life.

"We all have to do things to make it in this town," Rogen says to a potential girlfriend who slept with his roommate. "I mean, when I first moved out here I blew 'Mr. Belvedere. It's OK. Everybody does that when they get here."

Being that I just moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in just this - comedy and writing - this movie has made me realize one thing... I need to get my act together!!! And no, it's not going to happen by blowing Mr. Belvedere.

Sitting at home searching for jobs on my fat ass isn't going to help me get anywhere. I know, I know, I do need a job. But in La La Land, what you need to do is go out there and get one. In other words, it's all about being in the right place at the right time, kind of thing. Yes, I always thought that was a crock of shit too. But you know what, it's true! For Ira Right, he was in the right place at the right time. For all we know, another comic could have been up on that stage that George thought was just as funny. But for Ira Right, his timing couldn't have been more perfect.

For me, stand up comedy is something that's on my "Things I want to do before I die, but will probably never do them list." Why? Because I'm a chicken shit. Unless I've had a handful of glasses of some red wine, then I sure as hell would never get up on a stage in front of people and be funny.

Am I funny? I'd like to think so. But do other people think I'm funny? That's a whole other story I'm way too scared to find out.