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Movie review: Funny People tells story of leukemia survivor
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Funny People, a comedy that tells the story of a famous stand-up comedian who emerges as a leukemia survivor, was released in North America on July 31. Starring Adam Sandler as comedian George Simmons and Seth Rogen as his young protege Ira Wright and written, co-produced, and directed by Judd Apatow, the film touches on several themes common to many cancer survivors.
The story revolves around George's struggle to make sense of his life, as his illness evolves and his circumstances change. When he is diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the most common form of leukemia, his doctor informs him that his case is so advanced that there is no hope that it will be responsive to standard treatment protocols of chemotherapy and radiation. He, therefore, prescribes an experimental treatment from Canada that only gives him an 8% chance of survival.
As George resigns himself to a quickly-approaching death, he is at first depressed and watches old videos of himself doing stand-up routines, which inspires him to return to those very clubs to do stand-up once again. It's then that he reaches out to Ira Wright, whom he hires as his assistant. As the two become friends and George confides in Ira about his illness, Ira convinces him to contact people from his past and make peace with them.
Just as George is prepared to die, his doctor informs him that he is one of the lucky 8% for whom the experimental regimen works. Elated and stunned by the news, George must now regroup and learn how to find meaning in life without the immediate threat of death. He also comes to understand that, while others may have forgiven his shortcomings when he was dying, his glaring character flaws are less tolerable when he rejoins the ranks of the healthy.
Though the cancer sub-plot remains on the fringes of the Funny People story, one main theme emerges to which many cancer survivors will relate: It's difficult to know you are going to die, but may be just as difficult to know your are going to live. Many survivors experience depression after completing treatment and achieving remission or a cure. While family and friends readily show support and love during the treatment period, there is a very real fear of being forgotten once well again.
In addition, there is often pressure from society for cancer survivors to become better people or have a new lease on life due to their near-death experience. As George tries to undo a lifetime of unhealthy behavior patterns, he becomes overwhelmed and quickly reverts to his former ways. In the end, he does make a small effort to change, but viewers are left wondering just how long his resolve will last. George offers this explanation to Ira:
I'm better in my body, but my brain has a ways to go.
Those who are easily depressed by the specifics of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis will be perfectly comfortable with this movie, as the topic is discussed surprisingly very little and with no great sincerity. Humor surrounds nearly all of George's doctor's consultations. However, cancer survivors and care partners, especially leukemia survivors, may find Apatow's lack of details unnerving. For instance, the entire movie lapses without mention of the name of the experimental treatment that cures George, though viewers do surmise from all of the pill bottles that the regimen consists solely of oral medications. In addition, the doctor's diagnosis and restaging seems to be based exclusively on bloodwork, with no mention of a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy or other diagnostic testing. Though the cancer subject material is obviously kept light to appeal to a larger audience and to maintain the comedic tone, it almost seems to trivialize the seriousness of the cancer itself by being so vague.
At 2 hours and 16 minutes long, this movie requires much patience as George struggles through the changes in perspective brought on by the resolution of his leukemia. In the end, viewers are offered a few laughs as reward, with only a little assurance that very much will be different for the protagonist.
AML is the most common type of leukemia in adults. Once diagnosed with AML, patients typically receive chemotherapy, with the majority achieving complete remission. However, about 70-80% of patients who achieve first remission will relapse, with the median time in remission before relapse being only 12 months. Less than 15% of relapsed patients survive long-term.
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