And by "Judd Apatow's" I mean "directed by Judd Apatow," not "containing Judd Apatow's name buried somewhere in the credits." We wrote about Untitled Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler project back in March, when all we knew was that Apatow would be collaborating with Sandler on a movie also starring best bud Seth Rogen and wife Leslie Mann (Sandler, of course, is a former roommate). This week, Rogen revealed to MTV that the movie will be a dramedy with him and Sandler playing a pair of stand-up comics, and Sandler confirmed, expressing mock frustration that he's going to have to come up with an act -- something he hasn't done in a decade -- to promote the film next year.Apatow was a stand-up comic himself in his pre-television days, so I'm sure he has some insight into what I've always thought must be one of the most nerve-wracking jobs imaginable. I think Sandler brings a lot of baggage to the Apatow brand, since Sandler movies have traditionally targeted a very different audience. Next weekend's You Don't Mess with the Zohan, produced and co-written by Apatow, looks like it's being perceived as a "Sandler film." If Apatow wants to bring his fans from The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up back to the theater, his minions are going to have to be very careful marketing the new film. Though, if you can get the Apatow fans and the Sandler fans to show up...
1. I take it you meant to say Seth Rogen, not Sam?
Posted at 3:13PM on Jun 1st 2008 by Michael