RBR: This is 40

Like many, I've been a huge fan of Judd Apatow's work over the years. He was on an incredible role until Funny People, which was one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. It was my hope then, that he could get back into his groove with his latest, This is 40; a film that allows him to go back to his roots somewhat by taking a couple of side characters from his film, Knocked Up and putting them center stage here. The two characters are Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's Pete and Debbie - a married California couple struggling with the problems associated with middle age. And if this film is to be believed, there are a LOT of problems as you reach mid-life including financial woes, sexual frustration, tensions with parents, tensions with kids, and an overall sense of fulfillment in life. As someone who has not yet hit 40, I can't speak on this with any expertise, but I couldn't help feeling as I watched this film, that the problems that these characters go through are not representative of most people at that age. It's not that people in their 40s don't deal with these issues, it's the specifics behind the depiction of these problems that seem out of touch. The Apatow films that work for me have always seemed to have its humor grounded in reality, whereas I didn't know who this film was meant to speak to. Part of the problem is the film's narrative structure. For the first half (of this unnecessarily 2+ hour film), there doesn't seem to be any organization whatsoever. It's just a compilation of small scenes that either touch on a problem or go for a laugh. By the time the film makes an attempt at getting to a central story there's just not enough to hang on to for it to work. There are admittedly some funny scenes in the film. When you're working with a funny cast, that also included Albert Brooks, Jason Segal, John Lithgow, Robert Smigel, and surprisingly Megan Fox, it's only natural that some laughs will develop. However, nobody outside of the two central stars are given enough to do. Those characters definitely needed more screen time. Not just because they are deserving of it, but also because Rudd and Mann's characters are so mean and depressing for the majority of the time that they are together that we needed more of buffer between their scenes involving them hanging out with other, more enjoyable people. While This is 40 does not sink to the level of Funny People, it has to be considered a disappointment. For as talented as he is, I think it's become apparent that Apatow is not as successful tackling more mature subject matters like he's attempted to do in his last two films. It seems like he wants to move away from the arrested development/man-child storylines, but he should also realize he should stick with what works. Rating: ** 1/2