This is 40

This is 40...Minutes too Long

I have loved all of Judd Apatow's directorial efforts. The first I saw was his first, 40 Year Old Virgin, which I didn't see in theatres, but thought was very funny. Then, in theatres, I saw Knocked Up and subsequently, Funny People. I've followed all of his films in chronological order, and have seen all of them except 40 Year Old Virgin in theatres. And I've found all of them delightfully funny and highly enjoyable. My favorite? Funny People, as I found it to be his most mature film to date, loved the Adam Sandler performance, and loved the more dramedy element as opposed to his previous straight-comedy.

Now comes the "sort of sequel" to Knocked Up; This is 40. Essentially, it regards the characters of Debbie (Leslie Mann, who was miraculous in Funny People) and Peter (Paul Rudd), who were supporting characters in Knocked Up. There are a few cross-over appearances from both films, namely Jason Segel, but they play smaller, supporting roles. This is more of its own film, diving into the dynamic of Pete and Debbie, both of whom had an established rocky relationship in Knocked Up.

I am a huge fan of both Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, both have turned in some excellent comedic performances. As far as This is 40 goes, they're quite good here too. I can't really pin-point any real problems with their performances; my issues lay with the material they're given.

Judd Apatow is a clearly talented director and writer. He showed that particularly in Knocked Up and Funny People (which I believe to be highly underrated). With This is 40, he attempts to shoot for the same formula that made Funny People a success (for me), which is a synthesis of drama and comedy. Particularly, here he wants to delve into the problems of marriage (especially once a couple has been married for over a decade, and starts to get bored of each other), having kids, and even the problems with their own parents. It's a movie about parenthood and relationships; wisely, a young teenage romance is inserted to provide a juxtaposition (and some very funny scenes) to the marriage of Pete and Debbie. There's also the inevitable arguments and disagreements that arise when your daughter starts liking a boy for the first time.

In many ways, This is 40, is a success; it is often quite funny, has many great performances - I can't really find a problem with any of them. What I do find a problem with is their purpose. What is the purpose of the (very attractive) young woman (Megan Fox) accused of stealing money from the store? It results in some funny scenes, and some eye candy for men, but what does it mean, thematically? I ask because, like The Master, this is a very thematic film (though in a highly different way). It doesn't have any kind of overriding narrative or plot; it is simply about a time in this couple's life. Compare it to Knocked Up: that was a film about a time - that was a story about two people with a crucial catalyst to the plot: he knocked her up. This is 40 doesn't center around any such element other than Pete's birthday party, which isn't a huge driving force.

At many times, I was asking myself: why am I watching this scene? What is its purpose? If this were cut out of the film, would I miss a single thing? By the end of the film, many times, the answer would have been "no, wouldn't have missed one plot point."

To me, this feels like a mash-up of scenes derived from someone's real-life marriage and parenthood, without any overarching story or understanding to provide the audience with some semblance of meaning or purpose to be watching. I personally wouldn't want to sit and watch a movie solely comprised of clips from the life of a married couple with two children taken over the course of a week. That's what This is 40 felt like to me, except more dramatized and funnier. It's just not dramatized or funny enough and lacks the proper design.

2.5/4