This is 40 - If this is 40, then maybe we all should just die at 39

There's been a lot of buzz about the movies coming out Christmas Day.  Les Miserables and Django Unchained will probably get the top spots that day, but don't sleep on This is 40, out a week earlier.  It's not a cinematic masterpiece or gut-wrenching movie.  What it is, is a gripping look at an adult couple going through life the way most people do.  It doesn't sugar-coat marriage or being a parent.  This movie shows you how much life can suck and how awesome it can be.

This is 40 is a squeal spin-off to Knocked Up written, directed and produced by Judd Apatow.  The movie stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann.  Paul plays Pete a man who is married with two duaghters to Debbie (Leslie), and the story centers around the week of their 40th birthdays which happens to be days apart.  Paul is the owner of a fledgling record label and Debbie owns a clothing store, run by Megan Fox.  Between the two businesses and a mooching father-in-law, they are in a financial bind.  They also have to deal with an emotional, hormonal teen-aged daughter in Sadie and a very adorable albeit a little too grown younger daugher, Charlotte.

I'm a divorced 33-year-old woman without children and life definitely has had it's dark moments.  I can only imagine what it would be like with a husband and two kids.  I think this movie gives me a pretty good idea.  Having to find time to spend with your spouse; deciding when and how to fight your kids' battles; how to help your aging parents; and, how to keep yourself happy in the process.  There are many laugh out loud moments right from the beginning, but there were also those moments when you really felt for them and took a second to think how would you handle this situation.  If you are married, it may help you feel better about your situation, and if you're not, it may help you decide if this is something you really want out of life.  Lucky for me, I still have a few more years before I hit 40 and reach this place.  I really enjoyed this take on a real life.  Usually, I don't like comedies or anything that's too real, but this was a good departure from my regular creatures, bullets, and/or bombs.  I'll get back to the fantasy stuff next week.