This Is 40 Review
RYAN: In honor of your 40th birthday this past Monday, Caroline, This is 40 is out in theaters. How much did you identify with it?
CAROLINE: I actually asked myself that same question as I watched this movie, and found many of the scenarios quite relatable. However, I did not start procreating at 27 as Leslie Mann did, and I only have one toddler, so I couldn’t relate to the having older kids part. But can we just talk about Paul Rudd for second?
RYAN: Of course! He’s so funny and good-lookin’. I wonder if he put on a couple lbs. for this role though, because he had a bit of a gut in the shirtless scenes. Which would make sense since he’s playing a cupcake addict.
CAROLINE: Yeah, but he didn’t seem portly enough for Leslie Mann to be constantly chiding him for overeating. He’s so freaking adorable and such a natural actor that I always just love watching him.
RYAN: He also has some great physical comedy moments. I laughed out loud several times during this film; it’s hilarious. Judd Apatow has done it once again, and I love that he used his real-life wife and children in the film. They’re all very good.
CAROLINE: This movie is sort of a spin-off from Knocked Up in that Leslie and Paul Rudd play the same couple, but now it’s a few years later. I thought Leslie Mann was really good too, though she needs to eat a cheeseburger asap.
RYAN: She’s skinnier than even Megan Fox, who was doing her best Shannen Doherty impression for the entire film.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ OMG that is so true. She was totally Brenda. And what on God’s green earth has she done to her face?
RYAN: She took a picture of Shannen Doherty to the doctor and said, “I want to look like that.”
CAROLINE: It’s so alarming. I mean, she’s still in her 20s and she’s Botoxing or Juvaderming like crazy. It’s not a good look, especially since she was so pretty already.
RYAN: Enough with the fillers, honey. Now, we must talk about how dynamo Melissa McCarthy is. She’s as good in this as she was in Bridesmaids.
CAROLINE: I was so pleased to see her turn up in this; I’d forgotten she was in it. And like most Judd Apatow films, there is a great supporting cast, many of whom I didn’t know were in the movie. Loved seeing Jason Segel and Lena Dunham.
RYAN: And true to Apatow’s style, the film is riddled with profanity. Some people in my screening were offended, but I was loving it.
CAROLINE: I totally noticed how profane it was and loved every second. What does that say about us?
RYAN: We’re dirty people. The only drawback for me, and I know you’ll agree, is the length. It’s just a lil’ too long.
CAROLINE: Sadly, all of Judd Apatow’s movies are, with the possible exception of The 40-Year-Old Virgin. For me this movie was fantastic and funny in the first hour, and draggy in the second hour. And yes, it should have been 20 minutes shorter.
RYAN: I liked both halves equally, but it definitely felt long for a comedy. I loved all the music though.
CAROLINE: Yeah, I couldn’t believe how music-focused this movie was. It’s a good thing, but it surprised me how many songs were referenced or sung or listened to. That’s not cheap, yo.
RYAN: Judd Apatow’s daughters were so good and he wrote so well for them. They must have been coached a lot because they’re not really actresses, technically.
CAROLINE: I thought the older daughter was great, but the younger one couldn’t always keep a straight face during the funny scenes. Both were adorable though.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: I’ll be 40 in a year, and I’m single and childless but I still related to many scenes and yukked it up quite a bit. I really liked this movie.
CAROLINE: I loved the cast and the first half of the movie is LOL funny. It lost me a bit in the second half, partially because it felt too long. I liked the resolution though and I can’t imagine anyone in this age range wouldn’t find something they could relate to. I’m a little confused as to why it’s coming out during Oscar season though; it seems more like a spring or summer movie.
RYAN: I think they were gunning for an Oscar nom for Leslie Mann.
CAROLINE: Um, that’s not gonna happen.
