Two days ago L.A. Times columnist Patrick Goldstein warned Judd Apatow that he needs to shorten the running time of Funny People (Universal, 7.21), currently around 150 minutes, or else.
“Two and a half hour comedies don’t work,” he wrote. “The form isn’t meant to carry that much weight. If you’re doing a comedy, especially one set in the world of stand-up comics, less is more. Always. Comedy is a form that rewards quick set-ups, sharp, fast editing and a rapid pace. They may share the first letter, but in comedy, languid, listless and lethargic scenes do not get the laughs. Victory goes to the hare, not to the turtle. The record on this is quite clear.”
