This Is 40 (DVD REVIEW)
This Is 40
DVD
Review by Kam Williams
Rudd and
Mann Revive Roles in Raunchy “Knocked Up” Spinoff
When we first met Pete (Paul Rudd)
and Debbie (Leslie Mann) in Knocked Up (2007), the couple was in crisis,
primarily on account of her controlling behavior. She unreasonably suspected
her husband of cheating because of the odd hours he kept as a Rock and Roll
talent scout.
Their subplot simply provided an
amusing diversion from a front story revolving around the farcical plight of a
popular TV host who ended-up impregnated by a slacker after a one-night stand.
With This Is 40, miserably-married Pete and Debbie have graduated from
peripheral characters to the protagonists of their own battle-of-the-sexes
comedy.
At the point of departure, we find
them both on the verge of turning 40 years-old. She’s in denial, still trying
to pass for 38, and generally dreading the impending arrival of her birthday.
Meanwhile, he’s regressed
behaviorally, and routinely undermines any potential romantic mood by flaunting
unappetizing bodily functions ranging from flossing to flatulence. So, it comes
as no surprise that the spark has gone completely out of their relationship.
This sad state of affairs is
established during the picture’s opening tableaus when see how, between work
and raising two high-maintenance daughters (Maude and Iris Apatow), Pete and
Debbie are too drained by the end of the day to even think about lovemaking. In
fact, the most passion either exhibits is for their jobs.
He’s the CEO of a struggling, retro
record company representing obscure has-beens like Gram Parker, and she owns a
trendy boutique facing its own financial woes following embezzlement on the part
of a trusted employee (Megan Fox or Charlyne Yi). On top of the burning
question “Can Pete and Debbie get their groove back?” this raunchy sitcom
ratchets up the tension around the prospect of losing their multimillion-dollar
McMansion.
It’s important to note that This Is
40 was written and directed by Judd Apatow, master of the shocksploitation
genre whose gross-out productions have basically glorified profanity, potty
humor, graphic sexuality and gratuitous nudity. This offering won’t disappoint his
diehard fans in that regard, and even has the rudiments of a plot for folks
whose IQs have reached room temperature.
A
midlife crisis comedy marking the milestone with a tribute to immaturity!
Very Good
(2.5 stars)
Unrated with sexuality, nudity, crude humor, drug use and pervasive profanity
Running time: 134
minutes
Distributor:
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD Combo
Pack Extras: Unrated edition of the film; The Making of This Is 40; This Is
Albert Brooks at Work; Graham Parker & The Rumour – Long Emotional Ride;
Brooks-O-Rama; Biking with Barry; Triumph the Insult Comic Dog; Kids on the
Loose 3; Bodies by Jason Commercial; Fresh Air with Terry Gross; deleted,
extended and alternate scenes; music with Graham Parker and The Rumour and Ryan
Adams; gag reel; Line-O-Rama; feature commentary with Judd Apatow.
To see a trailer for
This Is 40, visit:
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