The movies that showed Judd Apatow the “complicated” nature of family
There are very few in the business that showcase the hilarious and complex nature of modern family life on screen quite like the superstar writer, director, and producer Judd Apatow. His films and TV shows have made audiences laugh, cry, and cringe for over two decades, inspiring new generations of comedic filmmakers to tackle complicated family themes, but there are several movies that inspired his cinematic take on family life.
Apatow has gifted cinema with cult classics and box office smash hits, with gems such as Knocked Up, Funny People, and The King of Staten Island, to name but a few. His work ranges from stoner comedies to darker, harder-hitting pieces that comment on what it means to be human and a part of a family unit in some way or another.
Over the years, Apatow has mastered the art of character complexity when faced with internal family dilemmas, and it stands to reason that he has had his own journey to success through cinematic inspiration. Families are oddballs; why shouldn’t cinema portrayals follow suit?
During an interview with Scott Founders for Film Comment, Apatow explains, “I grew up on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and M*A*S*H and All in the Family and Taxi, and what that imprinted on me was that families are complicated but we love each other and at the end of the day we’re there for each other.” Apatow clearly uses the thematic devices from these shows in his writing and directing, making clear the complicated structure of family life but always coming back to love and commitment in the end.
Apatow also cites Fast Times at Ridgemont High as his big inspiration. In the same interview, he reflects on his work on Funny People, posing the question, “Is it possible to show how complicated the human struggle can be in a movie that’s also very entertaining?” the aforementioned movie certainly does that.
The classic teen caper arose in the midst of the MTV era and offered up a more wholesome take on the intersect of culture, coming of age, and the ties that bind. It’s influence is evident in the very core of Apatow’s outlook.
Using Fast Times at Ridgemont High as a benchmark for his approach to complicated family matters, Apatow, in his own words, makes all his movies with the aim “to show all the colours of life, the good and the bad.” If his continuing success and relevance within Hollywood is anything to go by, then it seems he is doing exactly what he sets out to achieve in his artistic work.
It goes without saying that Judd Apatow is a master filmmaker whose work consistently showcases a deep understanding of pacing, plot, and character complexity. His ability to navigate complex themes, particularly within the context of family dynamics, has produced some of cinema’s most memorable stories. Families, in all their beautiful intricacy, have always been a rich source of inspiration, and Apatow continually adds to this legacy, inspiring new generations of filmmakers just as the works of others once inspired him.
