LOS ANGELES?Adam Sandler has always been low-key and soft-spoken at interviews, but in a recent talk, he seemed even more subdued than usual. The basic premise of the actor?s latest film, ?Funny People??a comedian (as famous as Adam himself is in real life) whose bout with a terminal illness forces him to reevaluate his life?appeared to put him in a bit of an emotional mood.

Of course, when a reporter asked Adam questions about standup comedians? penchant for raunchy jokes, the actor couldn?t resist being naughty himself in his answers.

While the movie is slightly darker than the previous films of Adam or director Judd Apatow, ?Funny People? is a comedy first and foremost, with humorous assist from Seth Rogen, Eric Bana (his comic turn makes us want to see him in more comedies), Jason Schwartzman, Jonah Hill, Aubrey Plaza and the very talented femmes in Judd?s life: Wife Leslie Mann and two daughters, Iris and Maude. Set in the world of standup comedians, the production features appearances by comedians as themselves, including Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano and Paul Reiser.

Excerpts of our press con with Adam, who is married to Jackie Sandler, the mother of his kids, Sadie, 3, and Sunny, born last November:

Brush with mortality

How has this movie?s story affected you?

I haven?t had a near-death experience, and yet, I still wake up every day, going, ?I got to do this better.? The most important thing in my brain is trying to make sure my family feels loved, and that I?m doing the right thing by them. That doesn?t mean I?m good at that?I can be pretty bad at times. That?s the thing that I would take: Let me make sure I?m doing the right thing for the people I love.

In playing someone who?s been given a death sentence in a sense, how difficult was that place to go to?

When I would have to, it would be difficult. But, I would hope that wasn?t true. When I watched the movie, and I see the scene where my character gets the news, I get nervous. Thirty, 50 or 70 years from now, when I get the news from the doctor that I?m going to?in my head, instead of thinking about what the doctor is saying, I?m going to think back, ?Oh sh*t, this was in that movie I did,? and not concentrate on what the doctor is saying.

Your character tells Seth?s Ira the irony in stars? lives?the more money you make, the more they give you free stuff. Can you comment about this?

I got free sneakers today. Yes, it?s true. People give you a lot of stuff. Sometimes, at a restaurant, I get offered a free meal. They?ll say, ?The meal?s on the house, Mr. Sandler.? Then, I say, ?No, I have no other way to tip the waitress if you don?t charge me, because I gotta put my credit card out.? I end up getting free-meal offers, but normally, I talk them out of doing it, because I don?t want to not give the waitress anything.

Yeah (laughing), we do get a lot of free stuff?it?s pretty silly. But, there?s a reason behind it. Something like, if you see somebody wearing your shirt, maybe it will help your business.

The movie makes a reference to how many standup comedians use penis jokes. Is it because they guarantee laughter?

They?re fun to write. It?s fun to talk about it. I see my penis every day. It?s on my mind a lot (laughing).

And, what?s on your mind is funny?

It?s funny at times. We?ve made penis jokes our whole lives. A lot of the comedians do enjoy talking about their penises (laughing)?or other people?s penises. And, their problems with their penises. I think Judd put some of those jokes in just to make it a real conversation. That?s how these guys talk.

When you write new jokes, who make up your trial audience?

I got my buddies?college roommates I?ve been writing with for years. I call them up and deliver the joke over the phone. They say, ?That?s pretty good. And, what about if you say this?? And I say, ?That sounds great!?

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