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Apatow vs. Sandler
27-Aug-2008
Written by: Susie Kopecky
It is a question as puzzling to us as to the great philosophers: Who is funnier: Adam Sandler or Judd Apatow?
I boldly present an answer to an age-old question; who is funnier: Adam Sandler or Judd Apatow? It is a question that has wreaked havoc on the minds of the greats. First, let us break it down.
Both Sandler and Apatow are filmmakers with a flair for the hilarious. Sandler, a former SNL player, has made a name for himself as a master of the absurd, and as a comedian who will go to most any length to get a laugh. Sandler has made a name for himself by making and starring in such movies as Billy Madison and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
Apatow is the new man on the block, a master of turning not entirely unrelatable situations into hilarity. Apatow has made a name for himself making such movies as The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up.
Both men are quite skilled at what they do. Sandler has been able to dominate the unrealistic comedy, and the somewhat more realistic situation comedy. In his second to most recent film, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Sandler took a situation rooted in the current political climate, ran with it, and succeeded in securing many laughs, and made a movie with a real moral and heartfelt core. Sandler's movies are laudable as well, for the fact that they are often populated by the same actors; clearly Sandler's friends don't starve on his watch. The dialogue is often so funny because of its absurdity, and the audience can enjoy a true and absolute sense of escapism. Sandler's movies, silly as they always have been, still always pack a good message (subtly and not so subtly) whether it be the importance of respecting those with differences (Chuck and Larry) or the importance of family (Billy Madison and Little Nicky).
Apatow is the master of the relatable comedies: more than a few people have been there. He, like Sandler, also often populates his comedies with the same group of actors, making for a fun game of "spot the Apatow crew." Apatow also packs morality into his silliness. At the heart of Knocked Up is a moral story: a man gets a woman pregnant, and really tries hard to change his life around, becomes more responsible, and prepares to be a decent father. The movie, 40 Year Old Virgin, is also, at its core, quite sweet: a man couldn't find true love until late in life, but when he did find it, it was worth the wait. Apatow brings in witty dialogue and a sense that we, the audience, are a part of the fun, and can relate wholeheartedly to the premise of the film.
So who is funnier?
That remains to be answered, in a column to come soon. . . .
Who do YOU think is funnier?
Talk to other readers about this story.
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