Back when Woody Allen first decided that it was worthier to make audiences miserable than to entertain them, he gave an interview to Newsweek in which he declared that when you're doing comedy, you're not sitting at the grown-ups' table.
It was easy enough to think of names that disproved him: Chaucer, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Swift. Far too easy. Trotting out a list of giants was playing the same game as Allen, assuming that "high" culture is automatically superior to anything else.
To take the true contrary position would mean insisting that it was ridiculous to imply that Chaplin, Keaton, the Marx Brothers, George S. Kaufman, Samson Raphaelson, Ernst Lubitsch, Preston Sturges, Chuck Jones and so many others were engaged in something an adult should be ashamed of.
But the notion persists that comedy is a mug's game and perhaps nowhere is this idea more prevalent than among people who make comedy for a living.
If the initial reports of his upcoming film, Funny People, are accurate, Judd Apatow is the latest comic craftsman to be overcome by the belief that he needs to get serious. In the film, Adam Sandler plays a hugely successful stand-up comic who, after discovering he has terminal cancer, takes a struggling young comedian (the Apatow regular Seth Rogen) under his wing.
How successful this move is remains to be seen, but one cannot make the argument that Apatow has never ventured into "serious" territory before. The scenes between Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann in Knocked Up are piercingly accurate depictions of marital discord. But cancer is a much more tricky subject, especially when it comes to humour. Go gentle and you risk sentimentality; go dark and you risk making the ravages of the disease so potent that no one feels like laughing.
The perils of the comic artist who yearns to be taken seriously have been the subject of movies at least since King Vidor's 1928 Show People in which the actress Marion Davies stars as a young country girl named Peggy Pepper who first delights audiences then, when she switches to weepy tragedies under the name Patricia Pepoire, bores them silly. The movie's happy ending was not replicated in Davies' own career. William Randolph Hearst, with whom Davies enjoyed a relationship, thought comedy undignified and financed a series of lavish historical epics which showed none of her comic gifts and which audiences shunned.
And in 1941's Sullivan's Travels, Joel McCrea plays a successful comic director who poses as a hobo during the Great Depression as research for an epic movie entitled O Brother, Where Art Thou? (a title the Coen brothers restored to comedy). The movie doesn't work, primarily because the climax, in which McCrea sees how comedy soothes the cares of a downtrodden audience, wallows in the kind of Capraesque sentimentality that was anathema to Sturges, its director.
However, comic actors who have taken serious roles have traditionally fared far better than directors who specialise in comedy - perhaps because switching your mode of acting is less radical a move than altering your vision. Even then, though, it is risky. Audiences ignored Steve Martin's stunning performance in Pennies From Heaven - one of the greatest Hollywood musicals ever - and the reaction to Adam Sandler's amazing depiction of a man trying to overcome his own knotted inarticulateness in Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love was summed up by a headline from the satirical newspaper The Onion: "Adam Sandler Fans Disappointed by Intelligent, Nuanced Performance."
And when audiences have paid attention, as they did to Jerry Lewis's performance in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy, the praise was sometimes used to denigrate the (sometimes exhausting) brilliance of his comic work.
Apatow risks a lot with Funny People because he is the dominant figure in American movie comedy at this moment. Since the success of Knocked Up in 2007, Apatow has been prolific.
Since Knocked Up, he has been involved as producer or writer in eight movies, including Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. The Internet Movie Database lists him as having seven projects currently in development. And it's impossible to imagine recent comedies like I Love You, Man (starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom have worked for Apatow) or the current hit The Hangover, which apes Apatow's sweet and raunchy style, without him.
It is significant that both of Apatow's films as writer-director to date are about grown men trying to, finally, act as if they are grown men. Apatow has come along at a time when the juvenile rules in Hollywood. And while, in comedy, the impulse towards the juvenile has produced some blissfully liberating comedy - the best of the Farrelly brothers and South Park, some of wilder moments of Sandler's pictures and the Austin Powers franchise - it has also often left nothing so much as the conviction that you're watching infants trying to be funny.
Apatow, with his male characters who are still into action figures and fantasy baseball leagues, who love the women in their lives but have to lay childish things aside to be worthy of them, is trying to address both the pleasures and limitations of a culture pleased to remain in a state of arrested development.
The films which have appeared under Apatow's aegis have sometimes fallen into just that juvenility. The two films he has written and directed, though, have, for all their obvious commerciality, felt personal, the work of someone who has spent time asking himself the question of how the male of the species graduates into adulthood without sinking into the deadly dullness of respectability.
This is just one of the reasons why the assumption that comedy and substance have always been strangers feels so simplistic. Not that purely silly comedy is somehow indefensible. Pleasure shouldn't have to be defended.
We are not yet past the point of assuming that which gives us pleasure cannot be enriching or worthy or any of the other schoolmarmish adjectives that still affect our response to art. And it is why the prospect of Funny People feels both a natural progression and worrisome.
At some point, no matter how Funny People is, Apatow is going to have to branch out, to move beyond the subject of male maturity, give us male characters who are already equal to the women they love. That is the only way in which he may produce a romantic comedy, a genre which, despite all the cutesy poison wreaked on it by Kate Hudson and Sandra Bullock movies, requires lovers who stand toe to toe, slugging it out before making up.
The remarkable final shot of Knocked Up, the new couple and their baby, driving in the passing lane along the freeway to their new home in the gang-infested neighbourhoods of Los Angeles, was extraordinarily unresolved for a big-budget crowd-pleaser. That's the kind of uncertainty that needs to re-emerge in American comedy, the sense that, in the absence of guarantees about the future, the characters are mature enough to meet what lies ahead. It would be wonderful if Apatow proved he was the guy capable of bringing those grown-up laughs back.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
