“Funny People,” the new Judd Apatow (”Knocked Up”, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, failed to perform as strongly at U.S. box offices this past weekend as Apatow’s and Sandler’s most recent movies.

In the Monday morning analysis that always follows weekend box office watching, it would seem that the message about the dark nature of “Funny People” got out — it tells of a standup comedian who learns he is terminally ill – and as audiences have repeatedly shown this past year during the recession, they decided they wanted lighter fare – real laughs, not those that come mixed with tears. “Funny People” took in just $22.7 million, according to final data issued Monday, compared to pre-weekend forecasts that ranged from the low $20 millions to $30 million. You can read our box office story here.

Along that thinking, escapist fantasy “Harry Potter” landed No. 2 with $17.7 million in its third weekend and animated comedy “G-Force,” was close behind at $17.1 million. In only 10 days, “G-Force” has grossed $66.5 million — a nice sum for a movie about a squad of guinea pigs looking to stop an evil billionaire planning world domination. Now that’s funny.

We were out on Hollywood Boulevard again this past weekend to ask people what they thought of the weekend’s new movies. Below is the video in which one fan gives a nod to one of this summer’s indie breakouts, “The Hurt Locker” which is set in Iraq, and that just shows there is an audience for adult-oriented movies with dark themes — just not a mass movie megaplex market.

(video by Marc Price)

Psst! Want to know where Judd Apatow hangs his hat when he’s not on the lot churning out pictures like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up”? Universal Pictures accidentally included his home address in widely distributed press materials produced for his latest movie, “Funny People,” which opens on July 31.

His wife, “Funny People” co-star Leslie Mann, was outraged when told of the snafu at a press gathering for the film on Sunday, saying: “That’s really not cool at all.” Apatow started to answer a reporter’s question on the subject, but was interrupted by a studio publicist.

For some reason, one of the pages in the press kit is a printout of an email reproducing an invoice for limousine service from Apatow’s home in the tony Los Angeles oceanfront suburb of Pacific Palisades to the nearby Santa Monica hotel where the ”Funny People” press event took place. Cost of the 12.4-mile roundtrip? $1,375.79. A taxi would have cost about $19 each way, excluding tips.

A studio publicist ripped out the offending page when it was shown to her, even though dozens of press kits had already been handed out.

The movie’s stars, including Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, were also at the press gathering, although it was not known if they  also enjoyed high-end rides or whether they maybe car-pooled.

For enquiring minds, Apatow is enjoying his well-deserved success. He, Mann and their two daughters live in a five-bedroom, six-bathroom house valued at $4 million by zillow.com.

UPDATE on Dec. 24: Thanks to all our readers for their kids’ comments and questions. Adam has replied back and answered six of them. They can be found by clicking here.

Here’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often at Reuters. Usually, we on the entertainment staff get to ask the stars questions and report back to you, but this holiday, we’re offering your kids the chance to ask a question of comedian Adam Sandler. Call it our gift, albeit a small one and one that is courtesy of Adam.

Adam stars in the upcoming holiday comedy “Bedtime Stories,” a family film in which he plays a hotel handyman named Skeeter Bronson, who loves to tell his niece and nephew bedtime stories. But his and his family’s life take an odd turn when the tall tales he tells begin to come true, and gets even further complicated when the kids begin to offer their own contributions. The movie opens on Christmas Day.

Sandler, 42, is a father of two kids and the star of family films such as “Click.” He’s a former “Saturday Night Live” comedian, has record hit music like his “Hannukah Song,” and made numerous movies in his career from “Happy Gilmore” and “The Waterboy” to “50 First Dates” and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.”

Adam doesn’t do many print interviews, but did agree to answer questions from kids, ages 17 and under. He hasn’t given us any restrictions on what you can ask. So, question away! We on the Reuters entertainment staff will collect them, give some to Adam and publish his answers later this month toward the opening of “Bedtime Stories.” So, if you are under 17 or have a kid under 17 who wants to ask a question, do so by posting the question in a comment.

Happy Holidays!