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This Is 40 Director Judd Apatow Talks About His Inspiration and Personal Connection To The Film

Posted by Caryn Bailey Leave a Comment

“And they lived happily ever after.”

This Is 40 Cast

This Is 40 begins where most romantic comedies end, bold and candid in it’s depiction of marriage, extended family relationships, child-rearing, financial stress, and coming to terms with one’s mid-life identity. The film, raw and unequivocal, was inspired by Director Judd Apatow’s life and stars his wife and two children. We sat down with the director and husband to actress Leslie Mann to talk about the inspiration for the film.

Judd ApatowFor Apatow, writing about his life naturally took form as he began writing out moments of his life.  He knew that he wanted to talk about Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie’s (Leslie Mann) 40th birthday and the meltdown that comes along with approaching mid-life.  What I love about the film is how this symbolic, “coming-of-middle-age” story affects every facet of a person’s life. Turning 40 (or whatever age one considers to be the number that signifies the transition to mid-life) can trigger a crisis in a person’s life, and Apatow wanted the film to be a “meltdown movie” where this couple begins doubting everything, including their marriage. One of the resonating themes in the film is the tendency to shirk responsibility for what’s going on in a marriage. “It’s easier to blame your spouse than to think about what you’re been through in your life and what you’re bringing to the party (Apatow).”  While the film depicts some of the most difficult struggles a family can encounter, it is incredibly redemptive and ends with the couple rebonding, something that was important as Apatow was conceptualizing the film.

One of the many things I appreciate about the film is it’s honest portrayal of marriage.  Too often, today’s romantic comedies/dramas idealize relationships, presenting them from a glass is always half full perspective. This film is “about what it takes to be committed to somebody for your entire life. You have bumps along the way, and at moments you even doubt the entire enterprise. But I do think [the film] is about what it takes to hang in there and learn from your mistakes and have a deep commitment for somebody (Apatow).”

This Is 40 Premiere

As Apatow spoke about the film, I sensed how deeply personal his connection was to the story. “When I was a kid and my parents got divorced, I always thought, ‘Why didn’t they try harder?’ (Apatow).” In the midst of this busy holiday season, where the stresses of children, finances, schedules, extended family and life can intensify comes a film with a message so timely…so necessary…Even amidst the worst relationships, Peter and Debbie don’t give up.

This Is 40 is in theaters Friday, December 21st.

No compensation was received for this post. Interviews with the Director were arranged which helped facilitate the writing of this post.

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Caryn Bailey
Caryn Bailey
Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.
Caryn Bailey
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What started out as a way to chronicle my son’s first year of life has evolved into Rockin’ Mama. I am a babywearing, breastfeeding mama, a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night.

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