I couldn't help but notice one pretty major plot detail left out of the newest trailer for writer-director Judd Apatow’s upcoming Funny People (out July 31st). The first trailer bases itself around the premise that a famous stand-up comedian and actor (played by Adam Sandler) learns he has terminal cancer, but the second one — which played in front of Brüno this weekend — leaves that little detail out completely. Why? Now it’s just a movie about…funny people. Does leaving out the movie’s more serious element (and lines like "I'm dying") make it more appealing to an audience looking for laughs?
Giving much more face time to the likes of cameos Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill, the newer trailer seems to rely on a cast. Plot? Who needs it! Hopefully the movie won't do the same. What do you think PopWatchers? Just because a movie’s called "Funny People" and stars some funny people, is it guaranteed to be funny? Check out the new, slightly NSFW, cancer-and-plot-free trailer below, and then first, cancer-centric trailer after the jump.
Universal’s probably trying to encourage as many people to see Funny People as possible, since it has been acknowledged that they’re desperate for an undeniable hit. I felt like people were responding to it well already, and the Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler combination brings a big built-in audience (Zohan, one of the oddest, hardest-to-like comedies I can think of, still made $100 million). But when I saw Bruno, the audience loved the new Funny People trailer. They laughed a lot more than I would have expected, and I’m sure since the Hangover’s on its way out, and Bruno proved to be a pretty alienating movie, audiences will flock to something that seems warm and funny.
And Apatow seems unconcerned about revealing the plot – it seemed like the first trailer gave away most of it. The joy in his movies doesn’t come with any suspense, but with the great interaction between the ensembles, so the trailer really plays to the movie’s probable strengths.
I think the two trailers complement each other well. The first trailer is good for showing what the movie’s about, but the second trailer is funnier. To be honest, I was a little worried the movie would be too serious and not as funny as 40 yr old virgin and knocked up after the first trailer, but the new trailer is reassuring.
people don’t want to see downer movies and serious sandler, you need to trick them, it was intentional they don’t want it to flop
In the first trailer, he finds out he isn’t going to die and his cancer is in remission. Seems like the cancer might not really play that big of a role at all, it’s more of a springboard for the real story of Sandler re-evaluating his life.
Well, I’ve seen the movie, and cancer is an important plot point. The remission as well. It’s not the first time different trailers tackle different plot points for a film.
The film IS funny, there IS a plot. It’s also half an hour too long, at 2:30.
I completely agree with Paige Parker! I am still looking forward to seeing the movie and hope it will be as good as Apatow’s last 2 films!
Well, if its a Judd Apatow film, it will be 3 hours and 45 minutes and will cover all of your concerns
I think Colin is exactly right.
If all we Universal had shown us was the cancer-free trailer, I think people would be really annoyed to be blindsided by such a downer of a storyline. I think audiences like to be surprised, but they don’t like to be tricked. (There’s a difference there.)
However, the second trailer seems to be there to remind people that this IS a comedy. Nothing wrong with that. Both trailers seem to complement each other and give a fuller idea what the movie is about.
Oh good, they gave Jason Schwartzman a character. That’s exciting. Poor Jonah Hill is still the fat guy though.