Don't Fear the Apatow

It's seem like we can't go a month without a new movie from people affiliated with the Apatow camp showing up in a movie. To be clear we're talking about Judd Apatow, the producer, writer, director that has had his name or hand in 75% of every comedy movie since Anchorman in '04. And Anchorman while not only being arguably Will Ferrell's funniest movie but one of the most quoted films in comedy history, has brought forth a menagerie of comedic actors from obscurity to the fore front of Hollywood. But some people don't like this. People seem to be increasingly frustrated with seeing all the same faces in every movie just playing different characters. People find it weird that a goofy guy that played the cameraman in Anchorman would go on to star opposite Katherine Heigl in a movie about knocking her up. Another knock on these movies is that there are all to similar, that it's the same kind of jokes over and over and tend to run over into the rest of the movies due in part again the the recurring actors. Trust me I get it, all these points are valid and worth taking a second to think about. But for starters this isn't the first time you've seen people play bit parts in the same movies over and over again. Bill Murray played the arguably the same character in every movie he was in from his starring role in Meatballs for almost the next two decades. And the comedians and writers he worked with over and over again had ties with SNL much like Will Ferrell's and Adam McKay's work with Apatow. And The brat pack I'm sure ring a bell in most peoples minds. All I'm saying is that every movie generation has a group of people that you're gonna see a lot of and these cats in the Apatow squad are our generations group. And these movies are the bee's knee's right now and that's the starting point for a list of reasons why Apatow is great for comedy.

1) His movies are good.

I know it's sounds simple maybe even a little stupid to say but his movies are undeniably funny and even heart warming at times. Of course this brand of comedy comes off a little sophomoric and low brow at times but these characters remind us of people we know just a lot funnier and that allows a connection that doesn't come across in most comedies. If you've got a good formula why mess with it. Almost all the movies that he's made have been big hits. And he's making us laugh and I think that's what most important.

2) Bringing relative unknowns to the forefront and revitalizing careers.

These days saying you don't know who Paul Rudd or Steve Carrel is is like saying what's so important about this Jesus guy. But five years back the best Rudd had done was have a vaguely incestuous relationship with Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and Steve Carell was a lowly correspondent on the Daily Show, which in my opinion is a good job but whatever. Add in him re introducing most of the casts of his two TV shows to the world like Seth Rogen and Jason Segel, who have both worked there way up from background characters in his early movies to Starring roles in current ones and you kinda see the idea. Of course you have to chalk it up to their talent being the reason they're so well known now, but Judd gave em the chance, which brings me to the next reason.

3) He works best with his friends.

I don't know how many of you watched Freaks and Geeks or Undeclared while it was on TV but those shows were some of the funniest and most aware shows I've even seen and if you go back and watch them you'll see so many cameos and the stars of the shows themselves are the people that make his movies great today. He has stayed true to his roots, his friends and the people who helped him get to where he is today and I think that not only does that show his character but it has made his movies all the better.


4) Rush

I love Rush and it seems that if not all the actors in these movies do, that the people writing and producing these movies do and I'm alright with that!

5) Work Ethic

This guy is always working. The shear volume of things coming out each month that have his name attached to it is astounding, and nothing ever comes across as half assed. He's not the guys that do the Stupid spoof movies trying to get at least two movies out a year for as little amount of money as possible. He's really trying to bring quality comedy to the viewers.

So yes, if you go to a movie and the lead roles are filled by anyone from anchorman or the 40 Year Old Virgin, you can expect to see at least 2 more people from either of those movies in it. But it's not gonna go away because these movies are good. Instead of blowing movies off before you see them just because of who's in it, maybe give it a chance because you can rest assured that a few of your friends will love it and quote it for the next month. I guess if you want a better excuse just say you don't have the money. No one's gonna call you out on that.