Apatow as Plastic Man

New York Post critic Kyle Smith served up a prescient post this week tied to tomorrow's release of Judd Apatow's "Drillbit Taylor" -- Expect the Apatow-is-stretched-too-thin stories to start appearing in the press in five. four. three. two…

He's right, but I think the Apatow narrative is more complex than that of another artist spreading himself too thin. Even watered-down Apatow flicks, at least the ones we've seen so far, are better than most Hollywood comedies. The writing is sharper, the casts are more unexpected and the laughs come from character, not rickety set pieces.

So while a "Drillbit" or "Walk Hard" might not measure up to "Superbad" or "Knocked Up," they're still a welcome respite from the current state of film comedy. That said, it's a shame that some of our greatest writers feel the need to take on too many projects. Consider J.J. Abrams, who risks creative burnout by overseeing "Lost," the upcoming "Star Trek" reboot as well as a new show set to debut soon. David E. Kelley did the same a few years back, juggling "Ally McBeal" and a number of projects which seemed to sap the joy right out of his best work.

Let's hope Apatow takes a well deserved vacation now. Audiences deserve the best he has to offer, but we'll settle for his scraps in a pinch.

(Photo: Owen Wilson looks for some nerdy kids to exploit in "Drillbit Taylor")