Review of This Is 40 (2012) by Thomas W — 11 Aug 2013

I'm not certain if it'd be accurate or not to call This Is 40 Judd Apatow's best film; but I am certain it could be described as his most grown-up and mature film. This Is 40 is a sort-of-sequel to Knocked-Up (just as the poster says) as the two lead characters -- Pete and Debbie -- were supporting players in that earlier comedy.

This film picks up X-amount of years later as Pete (Paul Rudd - I Love You Man) and Debbie (Leslie Mann - The Bling Ring) are approaching their 40th birthdays -- hers a few days before his -- and they slowly come to terms with the fact that life isn't exactly what they had planned for themselves in their younger years.

The film is a comedy and is at times laugh-out-loud hilarious ONLY if the subtle humor is understood and appreciated. This Is 40 has a very realistic edge to it as a relationship feature even IF Apatow also stuffs it full of absurdist moments fishing for laughs.

It is at its best when the film tackles mundane moments of life regarding relationship drama or kid-speak. Apatow could have made an excellent film about the shortcomings and letdowns of life -- and he gets many of these moments right -- but he has needlessly also inserted several other elements into the plausible film that make the film a bit less and take away from the film's more realistic elements -- I could have done with less of the drama from their parents.

I still enjoyed the film and found it rather heartwarming and entertaining ... and it is good seeing Megan Fox (Transformers) again display some comedic acting chops. There is little to lament here as they get most of it just right.

This is 40.