The Auteur Report Card: Judd Apatow

Written by David SwindlecloseAuthor: DavidSwindle Name: David Swindle
Email: DavidSwindle@gmail.com
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About: I'm a free lance writer, film critic, and blogger. I frequently write about politics, ideology, spirituality, books, and TV. I am a graduate of Ball State University with degrees in English (creative writing) and Political Science. I live in Muncie, Indiana with my wife April, our cat Butters, and Siberian Husky puppy Maura. More about me here: http://frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35212See Authors Posts (11) on July 29, 2009

For the last half decade one figure has dominated the comedic landscape, leaving his competitors looking about as funny as a night with Michael at Neverland Ranch.

Judd Apatow has been all over the place, writing, directing, and producing the most memorable comedies of recent memory.

Since the initial success of 2004’s “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” an Apatow production, and 2005’s “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” an Apatow directorial effort, it’s been one laugh-fest after another

But it hasn’t always been that way in Apatow’s long career as a producer, writer, and director. His early work failed to distinguish him. He wrote and produced such forgettable comedies as “Heavy Weights,” a film about a fat camp, and “Celtic Pride,” about two crazed Celtic fans. He also produced the dark Jim Carrey comedy “The Cable Guy” – not the standout of Carrey’s filmography. These pictures don’t have “comedic kingpin” written on them at all.

Apatow would begin to show promise in the world of television. He created and produced two praised shows – “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared” – both of which failed to garner enough support to stay on the air.

Fifteen years floating around the margins of the comedy world, slowly developing his craft and collecting young talent would finally yield success with “Anchorman,” a new cult classic that would cement Will Ferrell’s reputation as the comedic actor to beat. Despite many obvious Apatow touches – witty dialogue, endearing characters, and frequent improvised riffs – “Anchorman” is far from an Apatowian picture. It really reflects the comedic sensibilities of Ferrell and director/co-writer Adam McKay.

The Apatowian vision would be realized the following year with 2005’s “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” starring Steve Carrell as a shy, action-figure obsessed nerd with a good heart. This made the Apatow vision clear: hard, frat-boy raunch blended with thoughtful commentary on sex, relationships, and friendships.

“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and Apatow’s 2007 follow-up “Knocked Up” were gross-out comedies with brains and heart. In addition to the requisite sex, weed, and profanity-based humor there was genuine drama and relatable characters and situations. This stood in stark juxtaposition to Hollywood’s other efforts in the genre. The other big comedy of 2005 was the ridiculously overrated “Wedding Crashers,” a film totally devoid of the sophistication of “Virgin.”

Thankfully, Apatow spread his vision around, producing more than half a dozen films since “Virgin,” the majority of which are successes. 2006 saw the follow up to “Anchorman,” the similarly themed Ferrell vehicle “Talladega Nights.” In 2007 Apatow had a hit and a miss. “Superbad” redefined the teen sex comedy Apatow-style, taking his aesthetic to the coming-of-age tale of two best friends in search of sex and booze. (See my “Not Selling Teen Sex” Parcbench article regarding the stealth conservative politics of “Superbad” and other Apatow films.) Unfortunately, his music biopic spoof “Walk Hard” was a miss.

In 2008 Apatow saw four of his productions hit theatres with a fairly impressive 75% success rate. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” an engaging romantic comedy written by and starring Jason Segal was as good, if not better than Apatow’s directed works. “Drillbit Taylor,” a juvenile comedy made with “Heavy Weights” director Steven Brill was the one to pass. “Step Brothers” reunited “Talladega Nights” co-stars Ferrell and John C. Reilly for more laughs and lived up to the standard set by previous McKay directed-efforts. The final Apatow production of the year saw the producer’s variation of an appropriate genre: the weed buddy comedy. “Pineapple Express” was an entertaining delight that produced a new classic stoner duo.

So far 2009 hasn’t been the best year for Apatow’s productions. “Year One” was pretty loudly blasted. Now is the time for him to bounce back with a return to directing. Opening this weekend is “Funny People,” starring Adam Sandler and frequent Apatow collaborator Seth Rogen. The film tells the story of a celebrity comedian (Sandler) struggling with cancer as he mentors a younger comedian (Rogen.)  Like “Knocked Up,” it’s rumored to include substantial dramatic material in addition to the usual Apatow-style laughs.

It has the potential to be Sandler’s strongest film since the career peak of “Punch-Drunk Love,” another time when he paired with an A-level director, P.T. Anderson.

Here’s hoping Apatow managed his balance of comedy and drama properly in “Funny People.”

Directed films:

2009: “Funny People” ?

2007: “Knocked Up” A-

2005: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” A-

Directing GPA: 3.666 A- average

Produced films:

2009: “Funny People” ?

2009: “Year One” D

2008: “Pineapple Express” A-

2008: “Step Brothers” B+

2008: “Drillbit Taylor” D

2008: “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” A

2007 “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” C

2007: “Superbad” A+

2007: “Knocked Up” A-

2006: “Talladega Nights: The ballad of Ricky Bobby” B

2005: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” A-

2004: “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” B+

1996: “The Cable Guy” C

Producing GPA: 2.916 almost a B average

Writer:

2009: “Funny People” ?

2008: “Pineapple Express” (story) A-

2008: “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” D

2007: “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” C

2007: “Knocked Up” A-

2005: “Fun with Dick and Jane” (story) C

2005: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” A-

1996: “Celtic Pride” C

1995: “Heavy Weights” C

Writer GPA: 2.499, a C+ average

Translation: a great director, a good producer, an OK writer

Filmmaker GPA: 3.0272,  a B average