Antkind

by Charlie Kaufman

I attempt to think of a film in English I know as well as I know Moutarde. It is a difficult task. I do not expend much energy on American films, as they are generally not worth the effort. I consider the work of Apatow, the Great Exception, as he is known among we enlightened few. There is one scene in This Is 40 that jumps out and smacks one in the face, even in that veritable sea of Apatow brilliance. I’ve deconstructed this scene. I’ve written about it at length. I’ve performed the Paul Rudd part in my acting for critics classes. I know it. So I attempt to play it back in my mind, just to see if I can. PETE: We’re turning forty and we’ve been married a long time and there’s no passion anymore. DEBBIE: And we have two kids. I hope they don’t hear us fighting. PETE: No, you shut up! DEBBIE: I’m turning thirty-eight. PETE: But you lie about your age, so you’re really turning older than that. DEBBIE: We’re Simon and Garfunkel! PETE: Look at my anus through a magnifying glass! DEBBIE: Did you get me a present? PETE: Shut up or I’ll kill you! Amazing. That is indeed forty. It is as if Apatow had a camera in my house when I was that age. Even though I know I did not get the scene verbatim, it’s a testament to the power of the writing (and the performances of Ruddmann, as I have dubbed Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, so organic and believable are they as a couple!) that I still find myself simultaneously laughing and crying as I recall the scene. The raw human emotionality is palpa...