A new trailer and images for director Judd Apatow‘s new film This Is 40 have been released.  The film follows Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann‘s characters from Knocked Up as they approach middle age.  The laughs aren’t as big here as they were in the first trailer, but I’m encouraged by the promise of a really sweet and candid story about family.  Rudd and Mann can walk the line between comedy and drama like few others, and Apatow has been trying to nail that James L. Brooks balance with his previous directorial features to varying degrees of success.  There’s a clear emotional throughline with This Is 40 that I think could be the key, and the pairing of Albert Brooks and Rudd as father and son is an inspired move that I’m eager to see play out.

Hit the jump to watch the new trailer and see the images.  The film also stars Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Ryan Lee, Charlene Yi, Robert Smigel, Wyatt Russell, Melissa McCarthy and Jason Segel.  This Is 40 opens on December 21st.

The first trailer for Judd Apatow’s fourth directorial effort, This Is 40, has gone online.  The film is a semi-spinoff of Apatow’s Knocked Up, as it follows the lives of the characters played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann.  The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a new classic, I was a big fan of Knocked Up, and while Funny People certainly had its issues, I enjoyed it for the most part.  That said, this trailer for This Is 40 shows huge promise.  We already know that Rudd and Mann have impeccable chemistry, but I love the idea of Apatow tackling the issues of aging and mid-adulthood through his dramedic eye.  We get a look at a couple of the bit parts from Jason Segel and Melissa McCarthy (to great comedic effect) and the end showcases Rudd’s penchant for spot-on delivery.  It’s safe to say that in a very crowded holiday release schedule, This Is 40 just jumped up towards the top of my most anticipated list.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Ryan Lee, Charlene Yi, and Wyatt Russell.  This Is 40 opens on December 21st.

Here’s a trio of TV casting updates for you. First off, we already know that Lisa Edelstein will not be reprising her role as Dean of Medicine at Princeton-Plainsboro on the upcoming eighth season of House M.D. but the female portion of the cast won’t be down one as EW has learned that Knocked Up and Paper Heart star Charlyne Yi will become a series regular this fall. She’ll be playing another young doctor joining House’s team, and with her awkward nature and charming comedic timing, it should be quite an interesting match-up with Hugh Laurie.

Details on casting for Parks & Recreation and HBO’s new comedy series 40 can be found after the jump.