This is 40 - 2012 - Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann.

Footnote characters getting their own film.

Set five years after Knocked Up, with Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl nowhere to be seen, This is 40 centres around Pete (Paul Rudd), Debbie (Leslie Mann) and their kids Sadie and Charlotte (Maude and Iris Apatow, respectively). Pete and Debbie are coming up to their 40th birthdays, and everything seems to be going horribly wrong all at once as financial trouble and a lack of a sex life are making the couple feel trapped. Add to the mix a moody teenage girl and a hyperactive 10 year-old and everything is in chaos.

Pete and Debbie are trying to discover whether they still love each other. They hide their bad habits from one another (Pete and his cupcakes, cigarettes for Debbie). They don't spend time together. He's evasive, spending a ridiculous amount of time on the toilet away from anybody else, she's a nag. Yet, they feel trapped in the relationship, because of the kids, because of history, because of responsibility. They have come to the realisation that the life they have right now, is what they are stuck with forever.

The couple has not developed as characters since Knocked Up. Pete's still careless. Debbie's still shrill and a constant nag. This was perfectly acceptable, and quite hilarious, when they were a bit part in Knocked Upbut, in their own film, they're really hard to care about. Their financial problems, due to Pete's handouts to his father (Albert Brooks) and a failing record label, are supposed to form the backbone of the plot. However, you find it hard to sympathise for the rich people, almost laughable at the suggestion that downgrading a huge house for a smaller big house is a problem worthy of our sympathy. They may have big financial problems, yet they can still afford to throw a sizeable pool party for Pete's birthday, and go on a couples retreat.

The script for this film is weak and contradicting. Pete and Debbie seem to love each other one minute and then hate each other the next. On their little weekend away they indulge in marijuana cookies and speak of the love they share, how amazing their relationship is, it's very mushy, very soppy. 10-minutes later, at a party, Pete slips to Debbie that "it's not your fault you can't feel love," starting yet another huge argument. And then once more, 10-minutes later, all troubles and issues are forgotten, as simple as that, all it takes is for Pete to ride his bike into a parked car.

This film is not bad, exactly, just boring for long periods of time with moments of rare hilarity. Jason Segal and Chris O'Dowd give the performances to look for, with writing that suits their comedic style.

J.Henderson.

5/10.