Today I present This is 40 for your viewing consideration (2012, Rated R, Available on DVD).
This movie is kind of a sequel to Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, but without the lead characters played by Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. Now the main characters are Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), who were featured in Knocked Up. They are joined by some other members of the Knocked Up cast, including Jason Segal as Jason, who is now Debbie's personal trainer, and Charlyne Yi as stoner Jodi, who works in Debbie's boutique.
Pete and Debbie are celebrating their fortieth birthdays, and not everything is so great. Pete's business is failing. Their kids are headed into the annoying teen years with a vengeance. Debbie's boutique has some crazy stuff going on. They have moments of happiness, but, ultimately, have to realize that their lives have changed for good. They're not kids anymore, even if they do eat marijuana cookies.
I liked this movie more than I thought I would. I expected it to be a total disappointment. Some of you may not have liked Knocked Up, but Favorite Young Man and I thought it was hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny. This Is 40 didn't make me laugh, but I chuckled ruefully at times. Pete and Debbie's problems seemed pretty real to me – real even if you don't live in an amazing house and have catered parties and look as good as Leslie Mann.
I totally related to the scene in which Debbie chews out a boy's ass because he's been rude to her daughter. Some people said on IMDB that they thought this scene went too far, but I loved it that Debbie stood up for her kid and wouldn't let the little brat get away with his crap. I did the same thing to a boy who picked on The Hurricane, but without cursing and threatening him with death.
I also enjoyed the scene in which the boy's mom (Melissa McCarthy) joins Pete and Debbie in the principal's office to accuse Debbie of the crime.
What's not real? I think Pete and Debbie would get divorced instead of making the best of things and staying together.
This Is 40 earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Approval.
Rita, I don't know if you'd like this movie. I have my doubts about it. Dee, I feel quite certain you would not like it.
Happy Viewing, Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell. Wow! This is Labor Day weekend. I hope your weather is nice and you can do some fun stuff outdoors. Grill a steak. Swim in a pool. If you can't enjoy the great outdoors, then stock up on movies to watch.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Haven't seen Knocked Up, so maybe this will be a double feature for us this weekend~
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them. They're related yet quite different from one another. Kind of like I'm funny and my sisters aren't.
DeleteWhen are they gonna come out with a movie about being... seventy? It could take place in a nursing home, and you could be the technical advisor.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
I reviewed Cloud Atlas last week. One of its plot lines has to do with a nursing home and I loved it.
DeleteThanks for the review. Can I watch movies even if it is nice outside?
ReplyDeleteYou should do anything you want. I'll watch movies because it definitely won't be nice outside here. Even if something weird happened and it were nice, I'd watch movies.
DeleteI haven't seen this one either...my daughter saw it and didn't like it so I haven't pursued it. Perhaps I shall reconsider...
ReplyDelete-andi
Maybe your daughter isn't old enough to appreciate it.
DeleteGotta see this. Sounds lovely. I did like Knocked Up.
ReplyDeleteThis is different from Knocked Up, but not necessarily in a bad way.
DeleteI did like Knocked Up. I thought it was sweet and I appreciated Hollywood showing a guy standing up to his responsibilities. When this comes to On Demand I'll probably watch it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I liked the way Seth Rogen's character grew and changed.
DeleteThanks for the review. I can see the entire film from reading this, so I guess you just saved me some money!
ReplyDeleteHappy to be of assistance, Inger.
DeleteI liked Knocked up... didn't like this is 40. While I found the issues common, I felt like they didn't have a good solid foundation under their marriage. Too much secrecy, and pretense trying to be something they clearly were not.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I suspect that happens WAY more than I think it does. I agree though, in real life, they'd have been divorced.
BUT, did you see the "out takes" of the session with McCarthy during the credits? Friggin' HILARIOUS!!!!
Yes, I watched Melissa McCarthy during the credits. I couldn't believe some of the stuff she said.
DeleteI actually bought this one. I may be 31 but I can relate to a lot of the things in this movie, me and my wife were cracking up.
ReplyDeleteI think you can relate to it better if you've been married for a while and have kids. I liked it when Debbie had to tell Pete he had a hemorrhoid. That's the kind of thing that only happens between couples who are very close.
DeleteFrom the sounds of it--nope! I don't think I'd like it. I saw a clip and never even considered putting it in my queue. You were right. You know me so well. LOL! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe "humor" wouldn't appeal to you, especially the parts with Melissa McCarthy because I know how you like her from The Gilmore Girls. I do, too, but I could accept her role in this movie.
DeleteI don't have the time to watch movies there have been some that I would like to see but I just rarely get around to doing so
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely live without this one, Jo-Anne.
DeleteOhhhh, I didn't realize this was a sort of sequel. I enjoyed Knocked Up but was irritated at that time by the rush of movies featuring fabulous women ending up with loser guys. My irritation is mostly Adam Sandler-based - he should never, ever play a romantic lead, in my opinion - but Seth Rogan is another irritant. Moving on...thanks for this review. I'll file this in: If it happens to make its way onto my TV screen, watch, but don't hunt it down.
ReplyDeleteI disagree about Adam Sandler, but only because of The Wedding Singer. He and Drew Barrymore made a great couple. She's not all that good looking and they were perfect together. As for Knocked Up, she's only with Seth Rogen because she got so drunk. At first they were a ridiculous couple, but then he manned up.
DeleteNeed to definitely watch this. Sounds like mid life crisis. That's where I am heading.
ReplyDeletewww.thoughtsofpaps.com