Funny People writer-director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old
Virgin, Knocked Up) takes an active role in picking the music he
includes on his films’ soundtracks, so you can bet the music here
matches his new movie’s mood. Since Funny People is a more
serious venture about a comedian (Adam Sandler) who thinks he has a
terminal illness, Apatow has appropriately chosen a more mature set of
songs. The album kicks off with Paul McCartney’s stoic “Great Day” and
segues into Coconut Records’ (which features the film’s co-star Jason
Schwartzman) power-pop nugget “Wires.” Other meditative tunes include
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation’s “All the King’s Horses,” Neil
Diamond’s “We,” Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart” and a live
rendition of James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind,” which he performs in
the film. It’s all a little too classic rock-leaning; don’t pick this
disc up if you’re looking for a laugh. Even Sandler’s rendition of John
Lennon’s “Real Love” is dour and downbeat. — Jeff
Niesel
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2009.
