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.

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Here’s a synopsis for This Is 40:

Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People) brings audiences This Is 40, an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit Knocked Up as we see firsthand how they are dealing with their current state of life.