With “This is 40,” Comedic Auteur Judd Apatow gives us his most well rounded film to date. When you study his filmography it becomes apparent that this is what the filmmaker has been shooting for as this work has the perfect balance of laughs and tears. Of course as a 37 year-old man, I am biased as I relate too deeply with Paul Rudd as he continuously slams cupcakes down his throat. My demon is ice cream. Filthy, sexy ice cream.
Now excuse me while I dust off the soapbox so that I may make some declarations. I wish I had a trumpet…
Here we go: For the last decade, Judd Apatow has been the most important mind working in American Comedy. He has produced/executive produced many a funny film from mega-huge hits like “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” to underappreciated gems like “Wanderlust” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”. (I will fail to mention “Drillbit Taylor”) Just check his IMDB with mouth agape in awe.
When it comes to the handful of films Apatow has directed himself, he has created his own formula that defies the standard conventions. Call them Apatowian Coma-Drama-dies. Actually don’t say that, ever, that but the Apatowian designation is fitting as he is the first filmmaker since Mel Brooks to develop such a strong signature style in the Genre. Starting in 2005 with “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” Apatow has created smart and thoughtful films that mix true-life issues with improvised hilarity. His films are often over 2 hours long and challenges us to throw out the quick and fleeting 90 minute structure that has been engrained in us from a slew of horrid Adam Sandler flicks.
Speaking of Mr. Sandler, it’s interesting that Apatow’s only major misstep was with “Funny People” in which Sandler plays Sandler who thinks he’s dying of cancer. The film took itself too serious as the Apatowian Formula spun out of control with a 150 minute running time and a third act that never stopped.
“This is 40” focuses on Los Angeles couple Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) as they both turn the dreaded age from the title, aptly named film as it is. You may remember Pete and Debbie from “Knocked Up” but don’t expect any cameos from Heigl or Rogen’s characters. They are oddly missing even though much of the story focuses on family and Heigl and Mann were movie sisters in “Knocked Up”. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. So Pete has money troubles and may lose the house (how topical) while Debbie is really struggling with growing older and keeps sneaking cigarettes in the bathroom. Then there are the parenting problems as their oldest daughter Sadie (Maude Apatow) is going through puberty and is dealing with it by ingesting multiple episodes of “Lost”. They also have a little one named Charlotte (Iris Apatow) but she’s just cute and near perfect as she sits in her room playing the theme song from “The Office” on her keyboard as the rest of the house is crumbling around her.
Doesn’t sound all that blithe but comedy is culled from honesty of the material. Apatow has used his real life wife and kids with Rudd sitting in as a better-looking version of himself (no knock on Apatow’s looks, Rudd is just a beefcake) and you get the feeling of being a fly on the wall as the couple works out their kinks. The entire cast strives for, and delivers, genuine performances that punches the material home. While Rudd is giving us his standard Everyman performance Mann is deserving of nominations if not a statue.
My only issue with “This is 40” is that improvised portions which have been coined “Line-O-Ramas” that are always sprinkled throughout these films have become obvious and play against the realistic tone of the rest of the film. You can tell when these moments occur because the actor will rattle off an entire string of punch lines with a smirk while the rest of cast on screen sits and waits for the riff to end. If Apatow wants to make Real Life Comedy, he needs to get rid of this habit.