After “Knocked Up” became a critical and commercial success, Judd Apatow developed a spin-off focusing on Pete & Debbie going through an existential crisis regarding their jobs, kids and financial difficulties. The premise I’m referring to is none other than “This Is 40.”
Released in 2012, (same year Now Is Good came out) It received mixed reviews from critics and movie goers alike. Judd’s working on a follow up titled, “This Is 50” with Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann reprising their roles. Speaking of which, Mr. Rudd published a fictional memoir with Marvel called, “Look Out For the Little Guy.” If you recall a scene from “Ant-Man the Wasp: Quantumania,” Scott Lang wrote a memoir about his life. In response to the latter subject. I wanna share my thoughts on This Is 40.
Today’s review contains SPOILERS. If you’re somewhat interested in this movie, watch it first and then check out the pros and cons.
Yay & Nay Aspects
Yay: Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann both did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Other Cast Members such as Jason Segel, Chris O’Dowd, Robert Smigel, Albert Brooks & John Lithgow all did a great job for their respective performances.
Melissa McCarthy makes a brief appearance.
Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt, has a small role hanging out with Debbie at a night club.
Humor retains Judd’s comedic style encouraging the cast to improve dialogue.
The spin-off’s loosely based on Judd’s everyday life as a husband and father juggling between being a family man and a producer.
Jon Brion (Punch-Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, ParaNorman) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Debbie’s birth year is 1972. The exact same year Leslie was born.
A Fart Scene made me laugh. Paul actually farted in front of Leslie. He’s also gassy in real life.
My favorite line from Pete, “So, go fuck your witch doctor!”
A running gag with Sadie’s obsession with “Lost.” After watching the series finale, Debbie blames J.J. Abrams for making her daughter cry. Wait til’ he and Kathleen Kennedy ruin the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. It’s much worse than Lost’s final episode. Don’t forget that prick, Rian Johnson for ruining Luke Skywalker.
One guy mentioned “Borat.” Sacha Baron Cohen’s “The Dictator” came out a few months before This Is 40.
Jodi does a Gollum impression. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” also came out in 2012.
Green Day lead singer, Billy Joe Armstrong makes a cameo appearance. Too bad, Universal scrapped plans to adapt the Broadway musical “American Idiot” into a movie. What did they give us? Horrible musicals. I think Wicked’s gonna suck.
- Joyful Noise
- The Pitch Perfect Trilogy
- Les Misérables
- Jen and the Holograms
- Cats
A Mid-Credits Scene features Melissa ad-libbing her lines.
Nay: Cinematography is an occasionally shaky at times.
Pacing feels slow for a two-and-a-half hour comedy. I don’t see it as an epic comedy full of laughs like real epic comedies “The Great Race,” “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” “Spaceballs” & “ Rat Race.”
Megan Fox did a terrible job for her performance. She may look pretty on the outside, but she’s an unprofessional actress on the outside. I’m appalled she’s playing Nitara in “Mortal Kombat 1” and playing Jason Statham’s love interest in “Expend4bles.”
Lena Dunham appears as one of Pete’s co-workers. So, let me get this straight. Judd shuns Bill Cosby & Louis C.K. Meanwhile, he still keeps in touch with James Franco and Lena. Talk about a hypocrite. Due to Judd’s hypocrisy, I have to Triple Down his association with these a-holes. He’s condemned in my world. A lot of comedy directors are hypocrites. Todd Phillips kicked out Mel Gibson in “The Hangover Part II,” but Mike Tyson makes a cameo in the first and second movie.
A continuity error with the family watching “SpongeBob SquarePants.” At first, they watch the episode, “That’s No Lady” with Patrick disguised as a girl. Then, it cuts to a different episode “No Weenies Allowed” showing Patrick beating himself up.
The Final Verdict: C-
This Is 40’s not a great or terrible. It’s a huge disappointment. Judd Apatow used to be an influential filmmaker in comedy. Nowadays, he’s a total hypocritical bastard pointing fingers at other people. Again, he’s condemned in my world. Screw Judd, Lena Dunham & James Franco! If I were you, do not support Judd’s movies.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 