Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: This is 40 (2012)

What is it about? 

A spin-off for the characters of Pete and Debbie from Knocked Up, the married couple are now coping with life as they are set to turn 40. 

Who is in it? 

Paul Rudd - Pete

Leslie Mann - Debbie

Maude Apatow - Sadie

Iris Apatow - Charlotte

Favorite Scene: 

After Pete has a rough day, the lies, feelings, and pressures from both come to ahead in a truthful argument. 

Favorite Quote:

"I want an Asian sister"

Review:

This is 40 is awful. There is really no way else around it other than just telling it like it is. The film is directionless with a plot (if it exists) is absolutely atrocious. The humor is awkwardly forced to the point of head scratching. And the characters seem so distant and so un-relatable, you truly end up not caring about any of them in the end. 

Other setbacks included the too-common and really uncomfortable vulgar language by and around children in the film (Director Judd Apatow's own kids), the random scenes that went no where, and overall for this viewer, the huge waste of John Lithgow's talents and abilities. 

Judd Apatow struck gold with 40 Year Old Virgin, and hit it big with Knocked Up, unfortunately, his spin-off around the Pete and Debbie characters from Knocked Up simply bombed. Big time.

This movie was terrible, and to make it worse, it felt like it was never going to end with a two hour and fifteen minute running time. You simply will hope it gets better, and to save you some time, it actually gets worse as it progresses. 

Some movies are so bad their good. This is 40 is just flat out bad. Really, really bad. Like, no-good bad. I would never recommend this film. In fact, I'll be quite alright if I never seen it ever again. 

Yes, we're talking that bad. 

Grade: 0.5/5

Recently Read

Quick Ponder: Future Self

We always think,  what would we say  to our  younger self? However,  what would  our younger self say  if they met us, today?

Knicks Trauma - Ugh Not Again

Well, that was a kick in the stomach.  Coming off a week where the word "catharsis" was used as the description for the euphoria and release of joy from two and a half decades of suffering, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers brought about another word - trauma.  Watching the Knicks collapse was the kind of moments that come with these deep runs and moments. NBA Playoff basketball will do that. Yet, this loss - this one - feels about as bad as the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees collapsed in the series to the Boston Red Sox.  That one carries some serious trauma. Luckily, the series isn't over.  Some other quick thoughts from this awful, awful night, New York Knicks Basketball.  - Not to conjure up hyperbole, or even contribute to "hot take" sports reaction culture - but this might have been the worst loss in Knicks franchise history. I cannot think of another in my lifetime, or historically.  - Tyrese Haliburton's "choke"...

Knicks Back in ECF Causing Catharsis

I've certainly shared my emotions and thoughts regarding the New York Knicks on this site over the years. There have been plenty of those to sort through - most of them are rants. Tonight, the New York Knicks ultimately destroyed the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, 119-81. I sat on my couch, afraid to allow myself to feel joy until that final buzzer. As a Knicks fan, I've been through too much to allow myself to do anything else, to make any assumption, until it was final. Until it was confirmed. Until something couldn't fall through...the way we're used to.  Once it was final, it was unreal.  The New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals. For the first time since 2000.  I was 15 years old the last time that happened. And that was a run with a squad that I consider (still) to be my favorite Knicks team of all-time.  I sat on my couch with all sorts of feelings. My wife was likely trying to understand the moment. My son, exci...