This Is 40 is a portrait of a marriage about to break. Pete and Debbie, played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, are both turning 40, their kids hate each other, their businesses are failing, and they are on the verge of losing their house. The film wants to be a comedy about midlife crisis and failure. It mostly succeeds, but its length drags the story into aimlessness instead of humor.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures.
Pete and Debbie’s Stressed Marriage
The couple’s problems are everywhere. Pete runs a record label that struggles to pay for Graham Parker’s reunion tour. Debbie owns a boutique where an employee named Desi, played by Megan Fox, is suspected of stealing $12,000 in cash. Their daughters, Sadie and Charlotte, fight constantly. Debbie decides to improve her marriage through exercise and fixing her relationship with her father, Larry. Pete fails to stop lending money to Larry, hurting their finances.
Running Time Work Against the Film
The film’s length is its biggest problem. A runtime that should carry more instead drags scenes into aimlessness. A romantic weekend at a resort where Pete and Debbie get high on marijuana cookies and joke about killing each other is a highlight. The rest of the film does not match it.
Comparing Pete and Debbie’s Businesses
| Business | Owner | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Record label | Pete | Financial trouble, Graham Parker’s reunion tour |
| Boutique | Debbie | Employee Desi suspected of stealing $12,000 |
Supporting Cast Carries the Comedy
The rest of the cast keeps the film moving:
- John Lithgow as Oliver, Debbie’s father
- Maude Apatow and Iris Apatow as Sadie and Charlotte
- Chris O’Dowd as Ronnie
- Jason Segel as Jason
- Melissa McCarthy as Catherine
- Graham Parker as himself
- Albert Brooks as Larry
- Lena Dunham as Cat
- Megan Fox as Desi
Debbie’s Birthday Trip and a New Strain
Debbie gets pregnant and decides not to tell Pete. Sadie’s online argument with a student named Joseph leads to a fight with Joseph’s mother, Catherine. Debbie takes Desi out dancing at a club, where she meets several Philadelphia Flyers players. One player wants to hang out with her and possibly sleep with her. Though flattered, she reveals that she is married, has two children, and is pregnant. He walks away politely.
Strength of the Cast
The film’s cast is the reason it works at all. Mann and Rudd play a marriage that has real tension and real affection. Lithgow, McCarthy and Brooks all get moments to shine. The jokes land when the film stays focused on the characters rather than their problems.
Where the Film Falls Short
The film’s strength is also its weakness. Apatow’s films often go on too long, and This Is 40 is no exception. The story is full of problems, but it never fully resolves them. Pete and Debbie’s marriage is threatened, their businesses are failing, and their house is in danger. The film ends without solving any of it.
This Is 40 is a watchable comedy about failure, but its length keeps it from being a great one. It has a strong cast, funny moments, and a clear theme about marriage. Its runtime and lack of resolution keep it from greatness.
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