Introduction
This is 40 is a 2012 comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Judd Apatow. It is considered a marketing “sort-of sequel” to the 2007 film Knocked Up. It shifts focus from the main couple of the movie to the supporting couple, Pete and Debbie. Set a few years after the events of Knocked Up, This is 40 offers a candid and comedic perspective of the challenges and hardships of middle age, family, marriage, and time.
As with most of Apatow’s works, This is 40 features a mix of sharp humor and wit, but focuses on the quieter and more reflective aspects of life. There is the absence of youthful silliness while trying to balance adult life cluttered with responsibilities. This is 40 showcases the talent of Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, who are joined by an ensemble cast, including Apatow’s family, which adds a layer of authenticity and emotional depth to the film.
Plot Summary
This is 40 revolves around a storyline where Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, a couple who lives in Los Angeles with two daughters, Sadie and Charlotte. The couple, per the events of the movie, are in mid-age, with Debbie nearing 40 and Pete already having crossed the milestone. Both are starting to feel the brunt of mid-life crisis.
Pete is a struggling indie record label owner who is trying to advance his business by signing older rock star Graham Parker. Graham is a renowned figure in the music industry, but his age has dulled his appeal. The label is still engulfed in debt, and not even close to expectations. Simultaneously, Debbie manages a small boutique, but is facing internal trust problems and employee theft. Both of them are facing the strain of balancing busy lives, a demanding career, and a once romantic relationship that has withered.
Tension is skyrocketing as financial strain builds. Their daughter, Sadie, is now a teenager filled with hormones and constant fighting with her younger sister, Charlotte. Debbie is now trying to fix her relationship with estranged father, Oliver, while Pete is secretly supporting his lazy father, Larry, with cash loans. These relationships are fanning the flames of their stressful lives.
The film follows the story of Pete and Debbie as they deal with these personal and family pressure in heart wrenching and funny ways. The couple attend therapy, argue about their sex life and shove affection in each other’s faces while combating frustration. The two host a birthday party, go on a vacation, and attempt a marriage rejuvenation with results that are, to put it mildly, unpredictable.
This film does not reveal itself through a single action-packed moment, but, rather, through life’s segmented, unpredictable vignettes. The film reflects the chaotic rhythm of a middle aged family’s life, where problems intertwine, laughter is the only fleeting relief and solutions are but a temporary band-aid.
Main Cast and Characters
Paul Rudd as Pete – An endearing, yet passive man, Pete is a character weighed down by financial stress, aging, and parental expectations. Rudd’s performance is a combination of affable charm and sincere frustration, making the character relatable.
Leslie Mann as Debbie – Debbie is hyper-assertive, yet soft at the same time. While trying to take command of her life and family, she is endlessly locked in struggle with her own reality. Mann’s performance is multifaceted, capturing strength while still grounding the character in a soft vulnerability.
Maude Apatow as Sadie – Sadie is the coming-of-age teenage daughter, and is challenged by the relentless struggle of adolescent social pressures, a technology addiction, and her parents’ meddling.
Iris Apatow as Charlotte – The younger daughter, Charlotte, is a character of untouched innocence and unexpected depth. She shares a few tender and comedic moments with Pete, making her role in the film quite memorable.
Albert Brooks as Larry – Pete’s father portrays an irresponsible dad who depends on his son for financial assistance. His character adds a mix of comedy and a tinge of humorously dysfunctional family legacy.
John Lithgow as Oliver – Debbie’s father is the elusive and somewhat contradictory parent who adds emotional turmoil to the relationship. His attempts to reestablish contact with Debbie leave plenty of unresolved feelings.
Jason Segel, Megan Fox, and Charlyne Yi – While not the main characters, they play supporting roles that add to the humor in the plot, particularly in their interactions in Debbie’s boutique.
Themes and Interpretation
- Aging and Self-Perception
The film depicts the issue of aging with its central character turning 40, not just as a number but a psychological milestone. As both Pete and Debby struggle to live up to their expectations, their efforts to fulfill their, at times, unrealistic objectives leads to comical situations. While at the center of the story humor, attempts to recapture youth and deny the passage of time embodies insecurities tucked away.
- Marriage and Communication
Marriage is portrayed as neither a celebration nor a battleground. Pete and Debbie’s dysfunctional relationship is marked with fights, and misunderstandings, and in between the chaos they somehow manage to reconcile. This is the plot of the film and brings into focus the struggle to maintain balance in a long relationship marked with mounting duties.
- Parenting Today
Navigating the world of child rearing coupled with smartphones, the internet, and overbearing parents becomes another important point of focus. For Debbie, striking the ideal balance of parenting control is difficult, particularly with Sadie, who is becoming more independent and more headstrong. The chaos of modern adolescence along with the generational gap is presented with humor and realism.
- Family’s Burdens and Legacies
Pete and Debbie are both experiencing unresolved issues with their parents. Debbie’s attempt to reconnect with her biological father brings to life unresolved issues of abandonment, while Pete’s kindness toward his father Larry exemplifies his lack of boundary-setting. These threads weave together the ways families shape each other throughout life, for better or for worse.
Style and Direction
Character focusing is what Judd Apatow favors for his films and shows over plot mechanics. Using almost 2 hours and 15 minutes of screen time, the film is long, which some critics deemed excessive, but for Apatow this is time to explore emotional beats that would get lost in a tighter format. Blended within his trademark style of improv-driven humor and earnest moments of sincerity, the film’s visual tone is grounded. Warm lighting and real location shooting reflect the story’s intimacy.
The involvement of his real-life family (Leslie Mann is his wife, while Maude and Iris Apatow are their daughters) adds a hard-to-replicate authenticity to the film. Their chemistry is convincing and enhances the family interactions.
Critical and Audience Reception
This is 40 was received with a mix of praise and criticism. Reviewers appreciated the elements of family and midlife that the film portrayed, along with the performances put forth by Rudd and Mann. At the same time, the film was criticized for its length, lack of cohesion, and self-indulgent elements.
There seemed to be a split in the audience as well. Viewers in the age group being portrayed found the film to be relatable and, at times, therapeutic. Younger audiences or those expecting a traditional structure found it to be aimless. Regardless of the mixed initial reception, the film has developed a core fanbase who appreciate character-driven dramedies.
Conclusion
This Is 40 is sharp but profoundly warm in the way it examines the modern experience of middle age. Rather than focusing on pivotal moments and dramatic life-altering events, the film captures quieter, deeply personal moments, like a car argument, a disappointing doctor’s appointment, or a child’s tantrum, that shape and reshape relationships over time.
Through honesty and humor, the movie encourages audiences to accept the flaws that come with growing up. It emphasizes that growing older, though challenging, can also give you the chance to face your fears, value your life, and find humor in the disorder.
This Is 40 aims to entertain and spark valuable reflection for those approaching 40 and those who are already well into their 40s, as it beautifully captures the intricacies of adult life.
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