this is a very smart and funny movie.

This is 40 is a comedy by Writer/Director Judd Apatow that is a spinoff of the 2007 film, Knocked Up. This is a story about family life at the end of your 30s and how you have to make your own normal. Apatow’s real wife, Leslie Mann, and their daughters Maude Apatow and Iris Apatow star in the film. It also stars Paul Rudd, Megan Fox, and Jason Segal, and Charlyne Yi. Aside from Fox, Brooks, and Lithgow all of the stars are reprising their characters from Knocked Up.

Debbie and Peter’s birthdays are about a week apart and they’re both turning 40. They are married with 2 girls, their teenager Sadie and 8-year old Charlotte. Deb owns a boutique where Desi and Jodi are her employees. One of them is stealing money with around $12k missing already. Peter owns his own record label and its in a lot of financial trouble, a secret he’s keeping from his wife. The type of bands he wants to sign aren’t new pop artists but older artists trying to make a come back. He refuses to conform to sign pop artists that make music he hates. These work problems cause stress on their home finances and it doesn’t help that Peter is giving his father Larry money with no signs of him being paid back. He goes to tell his dad that he just can’t do it anymore and somehow his dad talks him into continuing to give him money. With all this happening, Debbie is trying to improve her relationship with her father Oliver, who she never had a good connection with. So as a part of their gifts to each other, they go to a resort for a romantic weekend getaway. While on the trip, they decide to work on their marriage and health to better their all around relationship. That means changing their diet, no smoking, and a much more active sex life.

It’s obvious that the cast has this excellent chemistry that makes the comedy feel very natural. I’m sure with Apatow using his real family in the film, the dynamic they have onscreen might be close to what happens offscreen. I’m glad that comedy geniuses Albert Brooks and John Lithgow joined the cast because of the way they behave explains why the characters Pete and Barb are the way they are.

The movie is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC and it looks great. As with most Universal Studios blu-ray releases, the transfer is done well and transferred with care. The details of the picture are very sharp with no major edge enhancement and skin tones are natural with warm coloring. The movie has a lot of environment changes from indoor/outdoor scenes. The scenes indoors have a very natural look and the they’re lit perfectly. The outdoor scenes have a very vibrant and bold colors that rounds off a great looking blu-ray release.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio has become the standard from Universal releases. It has a well balanced sound that is appropriate for the type of film. The score is mostly based in the front 2 speakers and the music doesn’t overpower the dialogue at all. It’s well balanced with rich bass and crisp treble for a clean sound. Just another plus with no real flaws in the mix.

The release is packed with extras. There are plenty of features to make you laugh.

Supplements
-Unrated Version of the movie: the unrated version is only 3 minutes longer than the theatrical and it wasn’t easy to find the differences.
-Audio Commentary: Writer/director Judd Apatow goes over every aspect of the movie like funny moments, why he cast his family and what’s scripted or improv.

-Deleted, Extended and Alternate Scenes: this is a hefty section of scenes that didn’t make it in the movie.

-The Making of This Is 40: this featurette is where Judd Apatow and the main cast and crew behind the scenes featurette.

-Fresh Air with Terry Gross: this featurette is an interview with Judd Apatow by Terry Gross.

-Kids on the Loose 3: Apatow directs his daughters in this documentary.

-Long Emotional Ride: this is a featurette of Graham Parker and the Rumour reuniting.

-The Music: this is the performances by Graham Parker and the Rumour, Parker and Ryan Adams as seen in the movie.

-This Is Albert Brooks: this featurette is a segment with Apatow and the cast on Albert Brooks.

-Line-O-Rama & Brooks-O-Rama: these are hilarious sections of alternate takes of dialogue.

-Gag Reels: this is a series of Outtakes with more Line-O-Rama scenes.

-Biking with Barry: Robert Smigel is…well biking.

-Triumph the Insult Comic Dog: Smigel’s infamous puppet visits the set to talk to the cast and filmmakers.

-Bodies By Jason: A very funny commercial with Jason Segel about his personal training business in the movie.

Edition Ratings
134 min Rated R
137 min Unrated Version

Disc Details
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
iTunes digital copy
DVD copy

Video Resolution
1080p MPEG-4 AVC

Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1

Subtitles
English SDH, French, Spanish

I think that this is a very smart and funny movie. It rolls out what it’s like at this crossroads people hit as they get older. It takes the hard times of the family dynamic and puts it out there, regardless of how harsh it may come off. It may not be an award winner but its a easy comedy movie to watch. The only gripe I had is its just a little too long. It really affected the pace of the movie but its not enough for me not to recommend watching it. If you’re a fan of comedy or even just Judd Apatow films, you’re going to like this one.

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