I always like when a filmmaker can find a good story within a story to expand a universe. It has led to some great Star Wars material and now Judd Apatow is making it work with one of his best films, Knocked Up.
They are calling ‘This is 40’ a “sort of sequel.” I look at it more as a spin-off. The film focuses on the continuing story of Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann‘s characters from the film as Mann’s character nears 40 and both of them start to re-evaluate their lives and why they aren’t as happy as they should be.
They’ve put together a great cast for the film that includes Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Ryan Lee, Charlene Yi, Robert Smigel, Wyatt Russell, Melissa McCarthy and Jason Segel. So there’s a nice mix of new and old characters. In the new trailer, we get to see Albert Brooks playing the role of Rudd’s father. I couldn’t imagine a better casting than that.
Check out the trailer below and then check out the film when it opens on December 21st.
Official Synopsis:
Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People) brings audiences This Is 40, an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit Knocked Up as we see firsthand how they are dealing with their current state of life.