The Best Popcorn Movies of Summer 2009

The summer of 2009 is over. There was no hit that captured imaginations like "The Dark Knight" did last summer. But there were two popcorn movies that were fabulous and deeply memorable: "Star Trek" and "District 9." These two are on my list of Best Films of Summer 2009.

Another mainstream movie that was among the best of the summer was Judd Apatow's "Funny People." I cannot understand why critics and audiences failed to respond to this profoundly human movie. Yes, it was a little long, but so was just about every movie that made money hand over fist. (Harry Potter, anyone?) Adam Sandler's breakthrough performance was so powerful that I shuddered while watching it. Sandler tops my list of those deserving consideration as Best Actor when Oscar time comes around.

But I'm one of very few critics with such a view. My only explanation for the failure of "Funny People" is that Americans still inexplicably hate when comedians stretch their dramatic wings. Jim Carrey suffered this when he made "The Cable Guy," but he stuck to his guns and ended up eventually being accepted as a serious actor. I hope Sandler follows Carrey's lead and refuses to give up the ship.

I also hope Judd Apatow doesn't over-correct for the failure of "Funny People." Audiences clearly had trouble acclimating to the idea of Apatow's being more than just a joke-meister. But over time, I think the film public and critics will come around. Apatow and Sandler both need to keep Jim Carrey's trajectory in mind. If they go back to simple-minded silliness, it will be a big loss for American culture. They are capable of so much more than goofball comedy. I yield to no one in my appreciation for goofball comedy, but I don't find it deeply enriching. I found "Funny People" truly enriching.

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