This Is 40
A sharply candid marriage comedy follows two overwhelmed forty-year-olds confronting debt, parenting, aging, and the limits of romantic patience.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- raunchy
- abrasive
- couples night
- parenting solidarity
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film funny and perceptive in its best relationship scenes, but overly long, meandering, and self-indulgent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pete and Debbie’s birthday crisis is driven by repeated arguments over money, parenting, aging, and mutual dissatisfaction.
Debbie’s anxiety about her aging body and the couple’s blunt exchanges place intimate embarrassment at the center of the humor.
Debbie’s relationship with her withdrawn father and Pete’s dependence on his own father complicate the couple’s effort to manage family life.
Fitness trainers, aging rockers, employees, children, parents, and friends all shape Pete and Debbie’s attempt to reach stability.
Films like This Is 40, and why
Knocked Up
Shared candid relationship comedy, adult domestic friction, parenting stress, and improvisational ensemble humor.
The Break-Up
Shared marriage-centered comedy-drama, midlife dissatisfaction, sharp arguments, and emotional realism beneath broad humor.
The Family Stone
Shared raunchy domestic comedy, family dysfunction, financial pressure, and affectionate but abrasive couple dynamics.
Movie Details
- Director
- Judd Apatow
- Release Date
- 2012-12-20
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (2407)
Cast
- Paul Rudd
- Leslie Mann
- John Lithgow
- Megan Fox
- Maude Apatow
- Iris Apatow
- Chris O'Dowd
- Jason Segel
- Melissa McCarthy
- Graham Parker
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is This Is 40 about?
- A sharply candid marriage comedy follows two overwhelmed forty-year-olds confronting debt, parenting, aging, and the limits of romantic patience.
- What is This Is 40 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of This Is 40 as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is This Is 40 violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in This Is 40.
- What did critics think of This Is 40?
- Critics broadly found the film funny and perceptive in its best relationship scenes, but overly long, meandering, and self-indulgent.
- Which films are like This Is 40?
- Films with a similar feel include Knocked Up, The Break-Up, and The Family Stone.
- How long is This Is 40?
- This Is 40 runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch This Is 40?
- In United States, This Is 40 is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
