The Film
Five years after Judd Apatow struck cinematic gold with Knocked Up, the director is revisting some of the film's characters. However, This Is 40 doesn't check in with its predecessor's main focus to see how parenthood is treating the odd on-screen couple. Set five years after the events Knocked Up, This Is 40 isn't really a sequel as much as it is a spin-off. So, it focuses on secondary characters Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), as well as some very familiar themes.
In fact, you don't even have to watch the original film to be very in touch with what's going on here. Instead, you just have to be 40 or somewhere in the realm -- at least if you want to get the full effects of the film. And that's not to say that someone in their 20s won't find a lot of funny moments in This Is 40, but for anyone in the 40something crowd, a lot of these moments will seem downright autobiographical.
Yes, we still want to like the cool music (Pixies still rule!), eat cupcakes on a daily basis, and curse out our child's schoolmates on occasion. And yes, we are constantly finding new and weird things happening to our bodies. The aging process is definitely one of the film's focal points. Of course, Pete and Debbie have other problems that most of us will never encounter. I'll never have a failing music label or employees fleecing my little boutique business.
It's also important to note that the film plays off a little like "weekend with the Apatows," since the director has cast his real-life wife and children, with Rudd filling in the father role. That said, it's not just a fly-on-the-wall view of his life; it's peek at 40 in general -- hemorrhoids and all.
Given that the film is at least inspired by Knocked Up, it's a little odd that Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl are nowhere to be found. However, the film has a ton of other cameos. Jason Segel, Graham Parker, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, John Lithgow, Lena Dunham, Chris O'Dowd, Melissa McCarthy, Billie Joe Armstrong, members of the Philadelphia Flyers, and countless others all appear in this film. It's pretty cool. It's also pretty long, clocking in at 134 minutes. Shaving about 30 minutes off the runtime could have made This Is 40 a much better movie. That said, it's filled with funny, touching moments that will certainly ring true to a lot of viewers.
Want to get more in touch with this movie? Check out Karen Dahlstrom's theatrical review of This Is 40.
The Picture
Given that this is a recent Judd Apatow movie, this 2.40:1 image shouldn't be too surprising. It's a good one, with wonderful detail throughout, whether the action is in the home, in Debbie's store, in darker clubs, or outside. The film also has a ton of characters, which means that there are tons of different facial features, clothing textures and other image goodies to ogle. The colors are also bright and spot-on, whether it's skintones, clothing or scenery. Viewers should have absolutely no complaints with this one.
The Sound
Like most comedies, This Is 40 is very focused on the dialogue. Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers all of the conversation and gags quite nicely. However, it seems like life should have a better soundtrack overall. Given everything that's going on, it seems like the surrounds could have played a much bigger role on this one. However, this track certainly has its moments, most notably when Graham Parker and Ryan Adams are performing.
The Extras
Also, since music plays such a huge part in the movie, you can expect several shorts dedicated to that. Graham Parker and the Rumour get a full 18 minutes and there are performances by the band, Parker on his own, and Ryan Adams included as separate entries.
If you walk away from this release wanting to know more about the movie, you just didn't spend enough time in this section. There's more in-depth info via Apatow's audio commentary, the director's 44-minute Fresh Air interview, and a 50-minute "The Making of This Is 40." The latter covers Apatow casting his family, the sets, the biking, who Apatow carried over from Knocked Up and why, the many cameos, and pretty much everything else in the movie. It has a lot of interviews and film clips, but also behind-the-scenes peeks at the actual production, looks at table reads, and other tidbits.
Final Thoughts
Believe it or not, This Is 40 is only Judd Apatow's fourth movie. (The guy seems like he's everywhere, doesn't he?) It's also one of his most personal films. At 134 minutes, it's a bit on the long side, but This Is 40 has plenty of touching moments and others where you'll almost do a spit-take. It also has an above average Blu-ray package, with AV that's enjoyable enough to make this one worth picking up.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
