Once Upon a Time - Watch It and Live Happily Ever After

If you are have an extra hour in your week and you’re looking for a new television show to watch that doesn’t involve “real” people humiliating and embarrassing themselves by revealing to the world what a waste of molecules they really are, then you may want to give ABC’s Once Upon a Time a try. The show is the product of former Lost screenwriters/producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and airs on Sundays at 8:00pm. The plot centers on classic storybook characters that have been transported to a modern day small town in Maine by a curse cast by the Evil Queen (played brilliantly by Lana Parilla) of Snow White fame. The Queen’s curse also stripped the storybook characters of the memories of their former selves and locked them in a perpetual freeze frame in time in which they never grow old or age. All this changes after twenty-eight years when Emma Swan (played by Jennifer Morrison) is drawn to the sleepy town of Storybrooke, Maine by her son Henry, who she gave up for adoption at birth. Henry sneaks out of Storybrooke and heads to New York at age ten in search of his real mom. Henry brings Emma to Storybrooke because he knows that she is the key to breaking the curse cast by his adopted mom, the Evil Queen herself, who happens to also be the town mayor, Regina Mills. Oh, and by the way, Emma is the daughter of storybook characters Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) who were the main reason for the casting of the Evil Queen’s wicked curse. Got all that? Well, that’s only part of what’s revealed in the Season One pilot!  

 

Once Upon a Time is a rich and complex series that has the potential to resonate with a broad audience. From the title, you might think that the show is sugar-coated Disneyfied prime time kiddie programming. True, most of the characters are familiar to us from the fairy-tale stories of our youth. But this show has a dark side to it and although you can gather the whole family around the TV for it, it definitely leans more to the PG than the G side of the traditional rating scale.

The show's characters are uniquely developed in a complex way that takes them beyond the black and white, good and evil versions that we remember from our youth. The Once Upon a Time versions of the storybook characters are a composite of elements from traditional fairy tales, the Disney versions, and some new wrinkles added by the show’s talented writing team. In fact, during the first season, all of the characters are developed along two different story lines; the storybook timeline, which takes place in the past in fantastical settings like the Enchanted Forest, and the Storybrooke cursed timeline, in which the characters do not recall their former selves and live as average citizens in the boring town of Storybrooke, Maine. 





Each episode of Once Upon a Time follows a select handful of characters in both story lines, through a series of interwoven current timeline and flashback sequences. Every episode reveals layers of the characters in both story lines, allowing the writers to develop rich and complex personas for each that reach far beyond the vanilla versions we know from the stories of our childhood. The writers masterfully link the show’s many characters together in clever back stories in both time lines so that you really never truly know what to expect from some of them.

 

The show's creative team has erected an enormous canvas  

on which to paint the story of this series. They have incorporated characters from Rumpelstiltskin to Jiminy Cricket, Red Riding Hood to Pinocchio, and from Captain Hook to Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Each week characters are drawn into the plot line from one of several “worlds” such as the Enchanted Forest, Never Land, Wonderland, and of course, our own current day reality. There are endless surprises and twists and no shortage of all of the elements that anyone could desire from a series including action, adventure, comedy, deceit, deception, romance, the ever popular battle of good versus evil. Each week, the show seems to take a storybook cliché and turn it on its ear, providing a new a fresh twist on an old theme. 

Once is chock full of great performances from cast members like Ginnifer Goodwin, whose Snow White is a kick-ass fairy tale heroine that departs drastically from any Disney Princess version you may have in mind, to present a strong female character that every little girl will want to emulate. Jennifer Morrison’s Emma Swan is another strong and confident heroine whose tough and suspicious exterior protects her vulnerability and inherent goodness. In Season One, the audience can live the adventure through Emma's perspective as she journeys from her solitary life as a bail bonds person in New York to the realization that she is the daughter of what she formerly believed to be fictional storybook characters and that the fate of a town rests on her shoulders.

 Emma could be any one of us at home who suddenly becomes swept up in this insanely unbelievable storyline in which we learn that we are much more important than we once thought, and that although we believed ourselves to be alone, are part of something much bigger than we were prepared for. On her journey of opening her mind and her heart, Emma learns, much like we all have in life, that when we love others, there are risks and dangers that test the very fabric of who we are and how much we are willing to sacrifice.

Although there is a wealth of top-notch performances, the true joys of Once Upon a Time are Robert Carlyle’s Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold and Lana Parilla’s Evil Queen/Regina Mills. Over two seasons, the audience has teetered almost weekly between despising and embracing these two characters as they are written so well and fleshed-out so brilliantly. They both flash heinous cruelty and exude pure evil in their darkest hours, yet have within them a vulnerability and desire to be loved that motivates them to perpetrate both vile deeds and virtuous acts. These characters are cleverly written and brilliantly brought to life by Carlyle and Parilla, both of whom are reason enough to watch the show. 

Be warned...Once Upon a Time is what I call "intelligent television." You truly need to invest in this show to get the most out of it. To keep up with the endless tidal wave of plot twists and details that wash over you as a viewer, you need to pay attention in order to appreciate the journey that the creative team is attempting to take you on. There are real life themes of regret and loss, family dynamics, true love, the duality and inner conflict of people, and the dangers of the consequences that inherent in the choices we make. All that is there for you if you look for it. Or you can just mentally flat line it and enjoy it on a simpler level.  

Once Upon a Time is definitely not a show that you want to start watching from its current point without backtracking to watch the series from its inception. Season Two is drawing to a close, but Season One is available on Netflix and Hulu Plus offers both Season One and the Season Two episodes aired to this point. To truly appreciate Once, you need to start from the beginning. Chances are, you will be hooked from Episode One and will devour the forty-plus already aired episodes and still be hungry for more. So check it out now and stop missing out on one of the best shows on television.

.........and if you get hooked, you may have more to enjoy soon. ABC has approved a Once spin off entitled, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which will focus on Alice, who oddly has never made an appearance on the original "Once."

Odd Couple Trivia - Part I

This post pays homage to what I consider the greatest sit-com of all time, The Odd Couple. This initial installment of Odd Couple trivia is what I hope will be the first of many more Odd Couple-related posts to come. The problem is that I hope that about a lot of different topics, but just never seem to find/make the time to compose new posts. If I ever become independently wealthy, that will all change! But for now, enjoy our first round of Odd Couple trivia. Scroll down to the bottom for answers, but if you decide to cheat, remember the words of Felix, "Let it be on your head..."



That Request Came From His Wife

1. “On November 13th, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence. That request came from his wife.” What is the significance of the date November 13th?

2. What is Felix and Oscar’s address?

3. During which season does Myrna make her debut on the Odd Couple?

4. Name the song that Felix writes for 70’s singer Jaye P. Morgan?

Jaye P. Morgan - One of Many 70's Guest Stars on The Odd Couple



5. What song did Felix pen during World War II that won him “The Silver Canteen?”

6. What song beat out Felix’s to win “The Gold Canteen?”

7.  Name the two child actors who played the role of Leonard Unger and later went on to further fame as teen heartthrobs.

8. What was the name of Leonard’s jumping contest frog, from the Season Five episode, “The Frog?”



Leonard & His "Uncle Oscar" in The Odd Couple

9. What was Murray’s wife’s name?

10.  What song does Felix attempt to play on the saxophone as a token of thanks to Oscar after he saves his life?

11.  What animal do Felix and Oscar dress up as when they appear on the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” with Monty Hall?

Oscar & Felix Make A Deal with Monty Hall

  

12. When a WZAZ radio DJ calls Oscar to compete in an opera trivia contest, Felix gives him all the answers that help him win a car. Who was the WZAZ disc jockey?

13. Who played oil tycoon Billy Joe Grissom in the episode “Strike up the Band…Or Else?”

14. What cards was Billy Jo Grissom holding when he beat Oscar at poker for $500 in “Strike up the Band…Or Else?”



15. When Felix repaints the apartment in "Take My Furniture, Please!" what does he ask Murray to search for before Oscar comes home?

What was Murray Looking For?

  Answers:

1. November 13th is the birthday of executive producer and show creator, Garry Marshall.



The Odd Couple - A Timeless Sitcom

 2. Felix and Oscar lived at 1049 Park Avenue.

3. The character of Myrna makes her first appearance in Season Two.



Myrna Turner

4. "Happy and Peppy and Bursting with Love!"

5. “To A Sour Kraut”

Felix Tries to Impress Jaye P.Morgan

6. “In Der Fuehrer’s Face”

7. Willie Aames and Leif Garrett

8. Maximillian, One in a Million Max



Felix & Oscar Make Frog Malted?



9.  Mimi

10. “Home on the Range”



Felix Plays the Sax for Oscar as Thanks for Saving His Life

11. A horse

12. Dick Clark


13. Pernell Roberts

"Four Aces? That's All There Are!"

14. Two pair (of aces)



15. Hairs (paintbrush hairs)

Episode VII: Can It Bring Back Star Wars? - Part II







A Long Time Ago…There Was a Great Story  

So what will make Episode VII a success?



The Archetypal Characters
of Star Wars 

The same thing that has captivated audiences since the tribal elders spun yarns around the fire, eons ago will make Episode VII a success…a good story filled with interesting characters. Sure there are successful films with scripts not worth the paper that they were printed on, but crammed full of stars and special effects that make big money and are beloved by moviegoers, but they are rare. The true powerhouses of modern cinema history are all driven by a good story. Star Wars was a compelling tale told in theclassic mythological tradition and chock full of classic (archetypal) characters (the idealistic, adventure seeking youth, the wise old wizard, the swashbuckling pirate, etc.). Star Wars was unlike any film people had seen before 1977, but the special effects alone would not have made it the legend that it became. It was a very basic story that we could all relate to that drew us in and hooked us forever. What kid didn’t dream of being Luke Skywalker or Princess Leia? What dad didn’t secretly dream of being Han Solo, or for those with a darker soul, Darth Vader? It sounds simple, but it works…a good story filled with interesting characters. 

Great Performances 

Even the best story can crash and burn when told through weak performances. In my humble opinion, the casting of Anakin Skywalker doomed the prequel trilogy from realizing its true potential. We could have overlooked Jar Jar. We could have overlooked Darth Vader’s tragic wail of “Noooooooooooooooo” at the end of Revenge of the Sith.

 

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 We could have overlooked some of the weak and cheesy dialog that peppers the prequels. Yet it is hard to overlook a subpar performance delivered by the principal character in all three films. To be fair, I have never seen Jake Lloyd or Hayden Christensen in any other films. They may be the best actors since Greek tragedy first debuted in Athens, but they are difficult to watch at times in Episodes I – III.

Hayden Christensen May Not Have
Been the Best Choice

True, Jake Lloyd was only a young child and he is not the worst child actor ever captured on film, but asking him to carry one of the most anticipated films of all time, may have been a burden too heavy for his little shoulders. Yet the blame shouldn’t fall on him. It is impossible to imagine that there were not better actors that tested for the part of Anakin (at both ages.) The performances are more glaring when held up against costars like Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman, all three of whom are among the best actors working today. 

In retrospect, good casting makes you unable to comprehend anyone portraying the characters other than those that appear in the movie. Could anyone else have played Han Solo? In 1976, you could probably have made a case for several other actors. But after the legend of Han Solo was enshrined in the hearts and minds (and action figures) of the world, we couldn’t even fathom Christopher Walken as the Corellian smuggler in anything other than an SNL skit. Who else but Ewan McGregor could have played young Obi Wan Kenobi? After watching Revenge of the Sith recently, I almost felt as though McGregor had been in the original trilogy and had pulled a Benjamin Button on us all. 
 



Ewan McGregor is Brilliant as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Prequel Films

 

Episode VII will have the benefit of familiar (and legendary) faces to bolster the cast. Recent reports all but confirm that Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher have been secured to reprise their iconic roles as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia for Episode VII. Whether or not Han Solo lives through the new trilogy will remain to be seen. Harrison Ford tried talking George Lucas into killing Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. As if the ending of that film was not dark enough for my (at the time) seven year old mind!

 

Harrison Ford Thought Han Solo Should
Die in The Empire Strikes Back

Luckily, Lucas was stubborn back then too and having complete autonomy in the Star Wars universe, he got his way. The difference was that we all agreed with his point of view and there was no internet, so no one called for his head in 1980. Although the original trilogy principal actors will return, they will most likely be relegated to supporting roles. This means that the plot will be driven by a crop of newly cast, younger actors, in whose hands the Force, and the success of this next trilogy will be placed. All we can hope for is that the casting folks will, take a cue from the knight guarding the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and will “choose wisely” when filing the key roles for Episode VII. 

No Soap Opera Miracles

A sure fire way to doom the franchise would be to attempt to somehow resurrect Darth Vader, although one can’t imagine how when we all watched him die and saw his body incinerated on a funeral pyre. Oh, and we also saw him appear as a “force ghost” at the end of Return of the Jedi. Actually, we saw this twice, with two different actors, so one could assume, aside from a soap opera style resurrection, that Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is dead.

The Circle is Now Complete

The Emperor, although less conclusive in terms of evidence, should also be dead based on what we saw in Return of the Jedi. Could he be brought back in some possible way? He could, but he would be ridiculously old and it would be a real stretch to believe that he made it out of the Death Star after essentially being in the middle of a nuclear meltdown. 

The point is that a new trilogy can be very successful with a new crop of villains. Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and General Grievous were all interesting and intriguing characters, all newly imagined for the prequel trilogy. The Star Wars audience is an intelligent and extremely invested group that takes the “universe” of Lucas’ creation very seriously. Bringing back Vader like Bobby Ewing in the shower on Dallas would insult their intelligence and be a monumental mistake. 

The Prequel Villains Held Their Own - They Should Not Try to Resurrect Darth Vader

Don’t Mess with the Force 

 

Although, I was a fan of JJ Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot, there were many Star Trek fans that were twisted by his disregard for the decades-old Star Trek timeline. In the film, Abrams essentially creates a new alternate reality that Star Trek fans now have to deal with if they wish to continue following the movies. His tampering with the backstory and history of Star Trek is astounding considering the near biblical reverence and attention that was previously afforded to the Star Trek legacy before the new film. This history was preserved and guarded by so many people, across decades of time, five television series, and almost a dozen films, that it was near blasphemy to even consider changing a syllable of the Trek gospel. Yet, it was done. 

Episode VII Director

JJ Abrams 

How is it possible for this to happen? The answer is simple. Abrams was allowed to do it. The owners of the franchise were most likely desperate to reinvigorate Star Trek, as it has been dead since (and essentially during) the Enterprise television series. So how do they bring back a “brand” that has been in existence in popular culture since the 1960s? Obviously, you change what was has existed and endured for forty years, how else? New fans will never know anything was changed and you can hopefully lure them and their future kids, in for the next forty years. The risk is that you alienate the fans from the previous forty years. Luckily, the Star Trek reboot was faithful to much of the franchise’s classic lore, so previous fans can still follow if they can swallow the deviations. Also, it doesn’t hurt that Abrams made one hell of a movie. 

Longtime Collaborators & Friends
Steven Spielberg & Kathleen Kennedy

The fact that Episode VII will be a continuation of the Star Wars tale should eliminate the option of Disney taking too many liberties with the history. Also, the fact that George Lucas is still drawing breath on planet Earth assures me that no one is going to screw around with his story. He may have been given four billion dollars be Disney, but something tells me that there is a creative consultant clause buried under all that money as well. Another safeguard may be Kathleen Kennedy, the new queen of Lucasfilm. Being a lifelong collaborator with Lucas’ buddy Steven Spielberg, and I’m pretty sure fairly tight with George himself, it is hard to imagine that she will desecrate the gospel of Star Wars while the brand is under her stewardship.

 

 

All in all, the future appears to be bright for Episode VII. darthmaz314 is optimistic that Episode VII will reinvigorate the Star Wars franchise and bring back the glory days of the Force. So for those who heard about Episode VII and said, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” darthmaz314 understands your trepidation, but offers another tidbit from the Star Wars universe, “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”       

Episode VII: Can It "Bring Back Star Wars?"

You Won't Have George Lucas to
Kick Around Anymore

Ever since it was announced that Disney/Lucasfilm would release a Star Wars: Episode VII, everyone in the galaxy has put forth their opinions about who should write it, direct it, star in it, provide the catering, supply the port-a-potties on set, and so on and so on. Being a lifelong Star Wars fan and publisher of this modest little blog, darthmaz314 figured why not throw his two cents (or Republic credits) out there into the blogosphere?

The debate over the impact that the prequel trilogy had on the Star Wars legacy may never end. How good (or bad) those three movies are is a topic for a future post, or series of posts, or a series of Congressional hearings. Some say that only George Lucas could have ruined the Star Wars franchise. Whether you believe that he succeeded or not is yet another topic for debate. But one thing is clear now that Disney has acquired Lucasfilm. Someone other than George Lucas will now have their crack at ruining Star Wars.

Episode VII Screenwriter Michael
Arndt Won an Oscar for Little Miss
Sunshine

The detractors are already lining up the scapegoats. They’re already blaming Disney, director J.J. Abrams, screenwriter Michael Arndt, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny…you get the picture. All this before a frame of footage has been shot or a special effect has been storyboarded. The fact remains that certain things are untouchable in the hearts and minds of the public, particularly the fanatical public. By the time there was rumor of another trilogy in the late 90’s, it had been over fifteen years since the release of a Star Wars movie, and even that last movie (Jedi) was already being criticized as the weakest of the franchise. The Star Wars films had already been cast as three mystical stone tablets in the church of science fiction, which, in my opinion, is no less credible than the Church of Scientology. It would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to live up to the expectations of the enumerable masses of Star Wars fans.

A Beatles Reunion Would Have Been Destined to Dissapoint...
Just Like the Prequels

You can compare it to a hypothetical Beatles reunion in 1980 before John Lennon’s death. Sure, it would have been the most anticipated musical happening since the first caveman smashed his stick against the cave wall. But once it had been done, there would have been tons of people lamenting how “they just don’t have the chemistry anymore,” or John and Paul can’t harmonize as well as they used to,” or “this new song is crap compared to A Day in the Life!”



Jar Jar Was the Scapegoat, But Not Totally
to Blame for Disenchanting Star Wars Fans

A cultural phenomenon like Star Wars (or the Beatles) eventually elevates to a point where it becomes unmatchable, particularly after the passage of enough time. Any attempt to duplicate its legend is futile. Does that mean that George Lucas hit the bulls eye with the prequel films and it was everyone else’s unrealistic expectations that were the problem? Not so much. There are problems with the prequel films and they extend beyond the long floppy ears of Jar Jar Binks, although it is hard to navigate around him in any defense of the prequels. But if we were to hop in our time machine and travel back to 1977 and not be influenced by the fact that Star Wars (I can’t bring myself to refer to it as Episode IV) was groundbreaking and unlike anything folks had ever seen in up to that time, AND were truly honest with ourselves, wouldn’t we all think that C-3PO was annoying? I think so. Did the character work? Absolutely!



C-3PO was Annoying, But the Character
Worked and We Loved Him

Did he have better dialog to work with than Jar Jar? Absolutely! Is Anthony Daniels a better actor than Ahmad Best? Absolutely! Was Jar Jar an over the top attempt at connecting to kids and selling action figures and Halloween costumes? Absolutely! Were both characters written to be annoying? Absolutely! The difference is that Jar Jar also annoyed the people on the other side of the movie screen. Simply put, C-3PO worked and Jar Jar didn’t, regardless of the reasons. Did many people think that some of Mark Hammil’s performance was corny and not his best work? Absolutely! But it wasn’t enough to destroy the movie. There was too much good about Star Wars to allow it the imperfections to tarnish our view of it. AND Star Wars was not trying to fill the shoes of three larger than life older brothers who were prom king, won every sports trophy, got straight As, and dated the head cheerleader throughout high school. 

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker 

So can a new trilogy be embraced by the fans? This fan thinks it can. As with the last trilogy, the first film will be crucial. Let’s be realistic. The true fanboys will go see Episode VII, despite their claims on the net of wanting to encase Lucas in carbonite or toss him in the Sarlacc Pit. Sure, they pound firmly on the keys as they post their bitter attacks in cyberland, but the diehards will be there when Episode VII hits the screen. The audience that will determine the fate of Star Wars’ next trilogy will be young adults or as I have dubbed them…the children of the prequel trilogy generation.

The children of the prequel trilogy generation, are now young adults. If you were ten when Phantom Menace was released, you will have been on the planet for about a quarter-century by the time Episode VII opens in theaters. Chances are that if you became a Star Wars fan and were baptized into Lucas’ Church of the Force during the release of the prequel trilogy, you are willing to give a new trilogy a chance. But if your parent was a Star Wars fan, you grew up hearing about how great Star Wars was and how much of a genius George Lucas was, and were dragged to three movies that you felt didn’t live up to the hype, you are probably not salivating for another trip to the galaxy far, far, away. If the Force is not strong among the entire prequel trilogy generation, the box office receipts will not be strong either. Considering how important the 18-34 crowd is in the entertainment economy today, it is hard to underestimate the power of the prequel generation in the success of Episode VII.  

George, Carrie, Mark, & Friends

The other category that will be crucial is the casual moviegoer. Will Episode VII be a movie event? Will the average multiplex-dweller feel compelled to pluck down their dollars to be part of the hype or will they be kept away by fifteen years of whining about how the prequels destroyed Star Wars. It is hard to say. The criticality of the opening weekend can’t be understated these days, so Episode VII may not have the luxury of waiting for word of mouth (or word of blog) to get around that Star Wars is back to entice the casual moviegoer. If the world doesn’t flock out to see this film at midnight screenings and the first few days of release, the word on the street (net) will be that it must be just like the prequels.

However, before Disney/Lucasfilm can woo the right demographics, they have to make a good film. So what will make Episode VII a success?

 

For our opinions, check back for Part II of this post coming soon.......

 

Walt Disney World Mythbusting: Part II of Where are the Animals at the Animal Kingdom?

Following up on a post from 2012, darthmaz314 brings you further proof that there are, in fact, animals...at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. All photos taken by yours truly during a 2012 trip to Disney.




Entrance to the Tree of Life Garden in Disney's Animal Kingdom

 

When Did Dumbo Get So Big? - Elephant at Disney's Animal Kingdom




Do the Watusi?!?!? - Ankole-Watsui at Disney's Animal Kingdom




"Kud-u please trim down these antlers? I can get through the E-Z Pass toll plaza!" - Kudu at Disney's Animal Kingdom




The Lion Queen - Lioness at Disney's Animal Kingdom

 

You wouldn't think you would see the ribs on an animal this big - Rhinocerous at Disney's Animal Kingdom




"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille" - Giraffe at Disney's Animal Kingdom




...and the money shot - Giraffe at Disney's Animal Kingdom




They may not be real animals, but their animals. - Daisy Duck and Nephews at Disney's Animal Kingdom

 

 



 

This is 40: A Review of Judd Apatow's Latest Gem

Judd Apatow's latest film, "This is 40" hit theaters on December 21st and if for no other reason, we should be thankful that the world was not obliterated, as predicted by the Mayans, so that this film can be enjoyed moviegoers across the globe. Apatow once again delivers a raunchy, yet sweet and touching tale about flawed, yet lovable characters. In what has become a common trend in movies today, the director holds a mirror up to himself and the rest of us, allowing us a glimpse of ourselves as intensely imperfect beings, yet doing our best in a mad and imperfect world. Apatow allows us to laugh at how utterly feeble and pathetic we are as we plod through life making mistakes and fools of ourselves, over and over again.

The main characters are Pete and Debbie (Paul Rudd and Apatow's wife, Leslie Mann), who reprise their supporting roles from the 2007 comedy smash, Knocked Up, also directed by Apatow. The story follows Pete and Debbie as they attempt to cope with life as they reach the big 4-0, doing their best to deal with the stresses of marriage, parenthood, career, and arriving at middle-age. The cast also includes the director's real daughter's, Maude and Iris Apatow (as Pete and Debbie's children), Albert Brooks and John Lithgow (as Pete and Debbie's respective fathers), Megan Fox (as Debbie's employee, Desi), and a host of supporting characters played by Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, Lena Dunham and others.

There are plenty of laughs throughout the film, as we have come to expect from an Apatow production. There is also no shortage of raunchiness, as we have come to expect from an Apatow production. Yet the cursing and potty humor are mixed in with equal parts of emotionality and love amongst the characters that takes the edge off and sends you away thinking you've just seen an PG-13 rather than an R. That is not to say that you should haul along the kiddies for this one. Apatow earns his R, while still delivering a touching comedy about the realities of being 40 something spouses, parents, and children. 

Paul Rudd delivers again as the American everyman, who you can't help love, even if he is a bit of jerk on occasion. Rudd seems so at home in front of the camera and exudes such a sincerity that it makes him seem less like an actor on the big screen and more like an old friend that you hope calls soon so that you can hang out together again. The character of Pete is wading through the muck of suburban life and drowning in a sea of estrogen, as he lives with his wife and two daughters. Pete is the man who from a distance, appears to have it all, yet does his best not to realize it and nearly throws it all away. 

There is a minor, yet interesting subplot regarding Pete's 
desperate attempts to keep his record label afloat, while 
refusing to sell out by trying to sign the next sixteen-year old pop star sensation. Pete's passion and dedication to "real" music is refreshing in our culture, which seemingly only values electronic noise that the masses can dance to and are popular for six months until the next mindless mess replaces them at the top of one of the dozens of charts. The scene in which Pete realizes that he cares more about the music than the musicians themselves, who are simply following the almighty dollar like a carrot on a stick, is truly a statement maker. Rudd drives home the anguish of this realization in truly impressive fashion, particularly for a comedic actor.

Ordinarily, one might think that it would be easy to discredit the director's wife, cast as the female lead in a big budget film. Yet, Leslie Mann prevents one from doing this by delivering a great comedic performance, with true emotionality and warmth. Mann is able to bring a complete woman to the screen in Debbie, who is vulnerable, sexy, fiesty, nasty, nurturing, and wildly protective of her family. The scene in which Debbie confronts a teenage boy who had insulted her daughter on her Facebook page is wildly hilarious. Later in the film this scene is trumped by another in which the same boy's mother (played by Melissa McCarthy) confronts Pete about his wife's behavior. That scene is then bested by another in which the three parents meet in the school principal's office and McCarthy unleashes her raw and insane comedic talents in a foaming at the mouth angry parent tirade.

 

Much like Leslie Mann, Iris and Maude Apatow (the real-life daughters of Judd Apatow and Mann), escape nepotistic ridicule, at least from yours truly, because they are truly talented young actresses, particularly the older Maude, who also showcased her singing talents in dad's last directorial piece, "Funny People." The Apatow girls keenly portray the love-hate relationship that is a reality for so many siblings as the grow up with one another. The girls do their best to stay out of each other's hair and out of the line of fire as their parents wage the daily war on life. Judd Apatow has inserted scenes in this film that attempt to place the audience in many different pairs of shoes, including those of the thirteen and eight year old children of Pete and Debbie. These glimpses through the eyes of a child are crucial for parents who steamroll through life, often not contemplating just how difficult it can be to be a child in today's society.

 

 On a larger scale, that may be the best aspect of Judd Apatow's latest offering. Sure there are many uproariously funny moments and endless familiar situations that mid-lifers will recognize as their own in "This is 40." But in my opinion, it is the skill at which Apatow peels back the onion and show us what it is to be an imperfect wife, husband, mother, father, child, friend, and plain-old human being on this crazy floating ball in the galaxy, that makes this film worth seeing. This film forces us to look in the mirror, see how pathetically flawed we all are, realize that we all want the same things, have none of  the answers we are seeking, and all make the same clueless mistakes, all while making us laugh at how inept we are at being parents, wives, husbands, and children. That is more than worth the price of admission in my book.  

Tip: Be sure to stay for the credits to see an alternate scene of the principal's office scene with Melissa McCarthy improving as Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd crack up in hysterics.