This is Forty is a spin-off sequel to Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up. This is Forty will follow Paul Rudd and Leslie Bibb’s characters Pete and Debbie.

There aren’t a ton of details on This is Forty yet, but it’s a dramedy likely very similar to Knocked Up, in that it deals with real life characters who deal with real issues, like growing older, and all the good and bad that goes along with that. Anyone who is familiar with Apatow’s films knows that he does a good job of showing a number of different sides to different times in your life, and This is Forty looks to be a mid-life crisis film.

This is Forty

Well, I’ve already said his name a couple times, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that Judd Apatow is writing and directing This is Forty. It’s his first film in a few years, as he seems to mostly be a producer, but he last made Funny People, and before that Knocked Up and The Forty Year Old Virgin. Lots of heart, lots of laughs.

This is Forty Trailer

This is Forty Release Date

December 21, 2012.

Pictures

Who’s In It?

 Jason Segel … Jason
  Megan Fox … Desi
  Leslie Mann … Debbie
  Paul Rudd … Pete
  Melissa McCarthy
  Chris O’Dowd
  Albert Brooks
  John Lithgow … Oliver
  Charlyne Yi
  Ryan Lee … Joseph
  Lena Dunham
  Maude Apatow … Sadie

What’s Good About It?

Even with films like Funny People, which was not Apatow’s best film, Judd is a step above most comedy writers. He seems to want to make more dramatic, honest films, but his bread and butter (as well as his greatest writing talent) is for comedy, so he blends quality characters and stories with really funny writing and actors. His wife Leslie Mann is a pretty good actress, especially for this role, and Paul Rudd refuses to make bad movies. He’s just so charming!

What’s Bad About It?

I feel Apatow’s films have been downhill since The Forty Year Old Virgin. Knocked Up was good, but not as good, and Funny People was yet another step down. I feel that part of the problem, at least with Funny People, was that it was too serious by the end, and kinda ruined the experience for me. It sorta ended on a sudden high note, but I was pretty bummed out by the end, and I didn’t much like Adam Sandler’s character. I know that was the point, but it deflated all the enjoyment I got from some of the earlier laughs.

Our Clever Prediction

I hope This is Forty is closer to The Forty Year Old Virgin than Funny People. I don’t mind seeing real issues on screen, and good stories need conflict, but it’s hard to believe in certain relationships when the couple is so negative toward each other. In Knocked Up Pete and Debbie had a good relationship, because though Pete was a screwup at times, and Debbie was a bit of a bitch, they were fairly honest with each other. I think it was a really nice example of a real marriage where the couple loves each other but are going through some tough times. Some films make the betrayals too hard to accept. If someone cheats it isn’t the type of thing you can easily come back from. Sure, I suppose it can happen, but marriages with that sorta thing aren’t GOOD marriages, even if the couple stays together.

I want Pete and Debbie to have a good relationship based around their family, but with the struggles for independence that everyone has in such situations. Of course they’ll struggle, but if a huge curveball is thrown in with Pete cheating on Debbie or vice versa, or something similar, I won’t leave the theater feeling I’ve seen an honest story. I’ll feel like the characters, as presented, we phony, and I was lied to.

Sorry I’m writing so much about this, but I was really disappointed by Funny People. And I look forward to Judd Apatow films. He has a lot of heart, but he film with a horrible character last time, and no matter how charming that character is, he’s still a jerk. I won’t root for the jerk. I’ll root for the lonely guy who can’t get laid before he’s forty. I’ll root for the young guy who needs to grow up.

I won’t root for the rich actor who tries to break up a marriage because he’s an asshole, and I won’t root for either the husband or wife who acts like a piece of crap in their marriage. As I’m sure Mr. Apatow reads StarSeeker and can probably still change the script though they’re halfway through shooting the film, no doubt the correct changes will be made.

Such is my power.