This Is 40 2012

The curtain opens on a candid moment in the lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), as their shower tryst is interrupted by Pete’s hasty revelation - he’s been indulging in a little blue pill courtesy of his buddy Barry (Rob Smigel). This sudden admission sparks a heated reaction from Debbie, whose already simmering emotions boil over as she confronts the approaching milestone of her 40th birthday. As the couple navigates the aftermath of this tumultuous encounter, they find themselves at a crossroads in their lives.

Fast-forward five years since the events of “Knocked Up,” Debbie has established herself as a successful entrepreneur, with Desi (Megan Fox) and Jodi (Charlyne Yi) by her side. Meanwhile, Pete’s own record label is struggling to stay afloat, despite his tireless efforts to promote Graham Parker & The Rumour’s reunion tour. As the couple juggles their respective professional pursuits, they must also contend with the challenges of raising their two daughters - 13-year-old Sadie and precocious eight-year-old Charlotte.

In an effort to reinvigorate their marriage and family life, Debbie turns to her friends Jason (Jason Segel) and Barb (Annie Mumolo) for guidance. She decides to take matters into her own hands by embarking on a fitness regimen and seeking a deeper connection with her parents. Debbie also makes the difficult decision to confront Pete about his financial support of his freeloading father, Larry (Albert Brooks). However, Pete’s attempts to deliver this tough message fall flat, as he continues to enable Larry’s irresponsible behavior.

As Debbie’s world is turned upside down by an unexpected revelation during a visit to her gynecologist (Tim Bagley), she finds herself facing a life-altering decision. Meanwhile, tensions simmer beneath the surface when Debbie intervenes in a bullying incident involving Joseph (Ryan Lee) and Sadie. The confrontation with Joseph’s mother, Catherine (Melissa McCarthy), sets off a chain reaction that culminates in a memorable showdown at the principal’s office - one that ultimately sees the couple vindicated as they use their opponents’ words against them.

As the schoolyard taunts give way to a night of revelry, Debbie takes Desi out for a spin, her suspicions about pilfered funds simmering just below the surface. Over drinks at a club, they chance upon several Philadelphia Flyers players, and Debbie finds herself at the center of attention when one of them shows interest in getting up close and personal. Though initially thrilled by the prospect, she quickly brings reality to bear, confessing her married state, motherhood, and impending parenthood.

The evening wears on, with Debbie dropping Desi off at her doorstep before confronting her about the missing cash. Desi’s admission that she’s been supplementing her income through…other means sends shockwaves through Debbie, who’s forced to reevaluate her assumptions. Meanwhile, Jodi spills the beans about the true source of her newfound affluence: a lucrative sideline in Oxycontin peddling.

As tensions within the family begin to simmer, Pete and Debbie find themselves at odds over their daughters’ perpetual bickering, which threatens to boil over into full-blown arguments. Against this backdrop, Pete’s 40th birthday bash devolves into a heated showdown with his father, Larry, over a perceived slight regarding his inheritance.

Debbie, meanwhile, takes her frustrations out on her own dad, Oliver (John Lithgow), who receives an earful about her feelings of neglect and abandonment. However, as the conversation progresses, Oliver reveals that his life is far from perfect, and that he’s always prioritized Debbie’s well-being above all else.

The family’s dynamics are put to the test once more when Pete overhears Debbie discussing her pregnancy, prompting him to storm out of the house on his bike. A frantic search ensues, with Debbie and Larry eventually tracking him down after a nasty tumble leaves him dazed and confused. As they rush him to the hospital, an argument with the driver who struck him only adds fuel to the fire.

In the aftermath, Debbie and Larry finally find a chance to reconcile, with Larry offering words of wisdom about the glue that holds their family together: Debbie herself. Later, as Pete recovers from his ordeal, he reveals that he’s actually thrilled at the prospect of adding to their brood, and that he doesn’t feel trapped or suffocated by their growing family.

As the dust settles, Debbie turns her attention to more pressing matters, including a chance encounter with Ryan Adams during a small concert. Her suggestion that Pete sign him to his label sets the wheels in motion for a potential new opportunity, as the evening draws to a close.

As the curtain closes on the opening credits, a tantalizing glimpse into the improvisational genius of Catherine (character name) unfolds. A seemingly innocuous post-credits sequence transforms into a masterclass in comedic timing as she effortlessly weaves a tapestry of biting wit and sardonic humor, trading barbs with Debbie, Pete, and the principal in an extended alternate take that showcases her unscripted prowess.