Released late last year, the comedy film was expected to smash the box office with a wave of love by fans, but it didn’t quite achieve those heights.

The strange thing about all of this is that Funny People really is a good movie.

Just like the Shawshank Redemption did, expect Funny People to become a DVD success, with people talking about it in the high regards they currently give movies like Anchorman and Napoleon Dynamite.

The movie is all about stand up comedians, in particular the famous George Simmons, played by Adam Sandler, who finds out he is dying and decides to hire a younger comedian (Seth Rogan) to be his PA until that time comes.

The two form a strong friendship and before you know it they become best friends, tearing apart the comedy world.

Eventually Simmons goes in pursuit of his long lost love that happens to be married to an Australian, ironically played by Eric Bana.

In the end controversy surrounds the plot, but comedy still remains the dominant theme.

In summary, putting three hilarious actors in the same film is often viewed as a mistake, but not in Funny People.

The latest creation from Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up) is more than funny, and offers some great tips for any wannabe stand-up comedian.

We’ve gathered together trailers for, District 9, Funny People, The Last Airbender, 2012, Toy Story 3, Shutter Island, 9 and The Informant. So sit back, maybe grab a snack, and enjoy!

District 9

Directed by newcomer Neil Blomkamp and produced by the almighty Peter Jackson. District 9 is set in an alternate reality South Africa where an Alien spacecraft has landed and its occupants quarantined to the titular District 9. The plot is still somewhat under wraps, but this new trailer sheds a little light on it.

The film appears to be shot in a semi-documentary style, which really helps with the immersion of the special effects and the reality of the world. Here’s hoping for some ultra long shots like we saw in Children of Men.

District 9 is set to hit our theatres on the 13th of August.

View District 9 Trailer

Funny People

With a cast an all star cast including Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Eric Bana, Leslie Mann, Jason Schwartzman and Adam Sandler (in a role that doesn’t suck!) FUNNY PEOPLE is set to be a tour de force for comedy gold. Written and directed by Judd Apatow the man behind The 40 Year old Virgin and Knocked Up, not to mention the producer of Superbad, Pineapple Express, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and a host of others, this is probably my most anticipated comedy of the year (along with season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but that’s a TV series and probably shouldn’t be compared, sorry).

In a surprising twist, this trailer gives less away concerning the plot than the previous trailer. Weird, but better in my opinion.

One last note, it’s good to see Eric Bana returning to comedy. He was hilarious in Fast Forward and his own comedy series back in the 90s.

Funny People will light up the screen on the 10th of September.

View Funny People Trailer

The Last Airbender

Based on the hugely popular faux-anime series (it adopts anime styles of animation, but is produced in America) Avatar – The Last Airbender is written, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan just in case you didn’t notice his name plastered all over the teaser. If you can’t quite remember who he is, he’s the writer/director behind The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, Lady in the Water and The Happening. I’m a huge fan of his first three films – they’re near perfect in my eyes – but his later works have been severely disappointing. Fortunately, if this teaser is anything to go by, it looks like he could be back on track!

A genre change and the adaption of a property which he didn’t create seems to be a allowing him to take a fresh approach to his work.

The story has quite a full on mythical history, so I’ll let you research that, but needless to say it’s set in a fantasy world where certain ‘benders’ can control the elements, Water, Fire, Earth and Air.

Dare I say, I’m back on board the M. Night train. I’m loving the fact that there are only two long shots in this teaser, can’t wait to see the full trailer!

The Last Aibender is currently slated to be released on the 9th of September 2010

View The Last Airbender Trailer

2012

What can I say about this one? It’s from Roland Emmerich the director of Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow. This guy has a fetish for end of the world settings and 2012 seems to be a culmination of all his previous films. This time the entire world has gone to hell and that means a bucket load of CGI landmarks crumbling to pieces. The effects in this trailer look amazing, but I’m not so sure the story will be any good.

Having said that, I’ll definitely be coughing up the cash to buy a ticket to this one, it’s pure spectacle!

2012 will destroy our screens on the 12th of November this year, which gives you plenty of time to prepare for the REAL end of the world when it’s actually 2012.

View 2012 Trailer

Toy Story 3

We’ve featured this one in a recent news round up, but it’s too good to leave from this list. When Toy Story 3 hits our screens next year, it will have been 15 years since the original film was released! Time sure flies eh? I think this speaks volumes about Pixar’s attention to detail and dedication to their stories, they could have pumped out many more Toy Story sequels if they wanted to. This teaser gives us no info on the plot whatsoever, but it’s just so damn awesome to see these characters again. They’re like old friends and I can’t help but smile every time I watch this.

Toy Story 3 will be coming to life on the 24th of June 2010.

View Toy Story 3 Trailer

The Informant

Here’s the stock standard plot description for The Informant: “The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.”

Doesn’t sound like the most exciting movie in the world right off the bat, but after watching the trailer, I can safely say I’m very excited for this. Under the always-awesome direction of Steven Soderbergh, Matt Damon looks as though he will deliver a very interesting and humorous character at the centre of this corporate/thriller/comedy.

The Informant will sneak onto screens on the 22th of October 2009.

View The Informant Trailer

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mystery/Thriller, do I need to say anymore?

Set in 1954, DiCaprio plays Marshall Teddy Daniels, who is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Watch and enjoy.

Shutter Island will creep onto our screens on the 1st of October this year.

View Shutter Island Trailer

Zombieland

Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss — but when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying’ bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

Looks like a lot of fun!

Zombieland will infect theatres on the 10th of December 2009.

View Zombieland Trailer

That’s all for now, if you feel we’ve missed something, or want to point us to a new trailer, feel free to e-mail me at:
jon(dot)d(dot)asquith(at)gmail(dot)com
Or pop in and say ‘hi’ on twitter at:
Twitter.com/spikeshinizle

When a veteran comedian learns he is suffering from a terminal, inoperable health condition, he strives to form a genuine friendship before he dies. As a result, he takes a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act with a spirited result.