In upcoming film, Judd Apatow breaks from comedy roots, takes serious turn

Judd Apatow has had a hand in many of the celebrated comedies of the past decade, producing Bridesmaids, Anchorman and Superbad, and writing and directing The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People and Knocked Up.

Is he the voice of his generation?

In Apatow’s latest movie, This Is 40, very little happens for the first hour — just career woes, marriage struggles and whiny kids who can’t be separated from their electronics.

Your typical life at 40, in other words.

Apatow wrote, directed, and produced the film, casting his wife Leslie Mann and two daughters as the wife and kids.

He insists the movie isn’t autobiographical in the actual events, though. 

“But it’s emotionally accurate,” he said. “It’s everything we’re struggling with and we found a way to turn it into a story.”

Citing Diner, All in the Family, and Taxi, he says, he loves comedies that makes you root for people trying to get through the normal routines of life.

It’s something of a Woody Allen-esque turn for some who built his early success on humor but has now taken a far more serious turn.

“I’m enjoying getting closer to the truth,” he said. “I love the idea of revisiting the same characters every five or six years forever.

“I say it a little bit right now as a joke to the actors. But I can’t imagine that there’s any chance that in two years, I’m not trying to write it,” he said.

In addition to his work with movies, Apatow guest-edited Vanity Fair’s first comedy-themed issue, due out in December.