No one would accuse Judd Apatow of being a concise writer or director. When he is at his best — “Knocked Up,” “Funny People” — his runtimes allow characters to develop and breathe, creating lived-in worlds. Yet, recently, that same penchant for listless pacing has shown its limitations, especially in his most recent film, “The Bubble.” His documentary work has been similarly languid in its pacing, but also showcases a deep ethnographic affinity for the world of stand-up comedy.

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While many film fans know Judd Apatow from being the writer-director of some massive comedy films such as “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” the filmmaker actually started out as a stand-up comic. And because of that, you can see how he honors the craft of stand-up comedy in the film “Funny People,” as well as putting the spotlight on legends such as in the doc, “The Zen Diaries of Gary Shandling.” Now, Apatow is ready to showcase perhaps the most famous stand-up of them all, George Carlin.

Continue reading ‘George Carlin’s American Dream’ Trailer: Judd Apatow Covers The Career Of The Iconic Comedian In A New Doc at The Playlist.