Sandler, Rogen star in ‘Funny People’

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana

Director: Judd Apatow

The story: A successful stand-up comedian, diagnosed with a terminal illness, takes an up-and-coming comic under his wing — personally and professionally.

The buzz: After exploring the comedic terrors surrounding the start of life in 2007’s “Knocked Up,” writer-director Apatow shifts his focus to the end of life for this. But some things never change — including Apatow’s ongoing collaboration with Rogen, which began on TV’s “Freaks and Geeks” a decade ago. And then there’s Mann, who met Apatow on the set of his 1996 co-production “The Cable Guy” — and married him the following year.