42 Up (1999)

Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I must confess that "42 Up" felt a bit redundant but it has nothing to do with the documentary itself, but rather the fact that I'm binge-watching the series, a concept that is totally estranged to the context when it was made, but that affects the "enjoyment" a little bit.Michael Apted's epic documentary series spanned more than three decades by the times the sixth episode was made, for the targeted audience, each episode was as fresh as if it was the first, carrying just a few bits of déjà vu. The introductory montages were necessary for a time where there was no video, let alone Youtube, to remember where we left each person. This is why I'm taking a little break after the '42' episode, I need to "miss" them for at least one or two weeks before concluding the series.But boy, I'm always glad when the show starts and as usual with good old Tony. Tony was the little guy who dreamed to become a jockey and had fulfilled his dream for a few months before becoming a bookie runner than a cab driver, he took his under-achieved goal with all stride, took acting classes, had a few roles, nothing to brag about, but nothing to be ashamed of either. Tony isn't a dreamer but a doer. And I'm amazed of the consistency of his high spirit.However, I was startled and moved by the physical changes, he gained a few pounds and definitely had that forty-something look, in a way, he made me ready to observe similar changes in the others. Nicholas lost hair, Paul a little less and his goatee featured a white little crop at the bottom, Bruce became a bit chubbier, Jackie and Susan looked their age and Lynn a bit older, probably her health didn't help... I'm sorry to venture into such superficial observations, but let's not pretend that this is an aspect we wouldn't care about. Haven't you noticed that after looking at old pictures, you look at yourself in the mirror?The interest toward physical changes might confine to a form of voyeurism but it's one of natural inclination, we care about it as we care about any sign of a declining health, and just like many of them have lost their parents in the previous episodes, some are getting ill, like Jackie whose disease seems to be a tad worse than Lynn's. It is obvious that as the series advances, some will get sicker and eventually die, I didn't put much thought into that until this episode. Thankfully, 42 is still relatively young and the episode allows us to focus on happier fates like Bruce who has finally met love, Simon who divorced and found love again, but let's get to the most anticipated of all: Neil, almost the greatest miracle of the series.Neil has always been the toughest nut to crack. For all I knew, when I 'left' him at 35, Neil could be as well alive or dead at 42, happy or miserable, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a friendship grew between him and Bruce, which allowed him to become politically active. Politics seemed to be tailor-made for Neil, as he was the kid who dreamed to be a bus driver, showing people what to look at. Ever since the show started, Neil has always been the one who shows us a different direction, not the marriage and the family, not success or money, something he didn't know exactly, but that we could figure out after hearing his insights about life, love, God and death, with Bruce's influence, he also started to get more involved in religion.That bit doesn't contradict Neil's personality since he admitted a few episodes earlier that believing in God was necessary to survive in this world. The documentary pays off with the part dedicated to Neil, because he's always the interrogation mark, and he still is, I could see him becoming a writer, a teacher or even a drifter again, he's the soul of the "Up" series as unpredictable as life itself. But there's something else that gives an edge to this chapter when at the end, it gets back to the other protagonists, asking them two different questions. How they feel about social classes in Britain? And about their fame? As if Apted was aware of their mortality (he was 57 at the time), he seizes the opportunity to have a retrospective look at the documentary and make the subjects for once commentators of their own journey.The social class bit is important because the 'characters' don't change much, we see the evolution of Britain and the population, the rise of immigration, technology, and it's interesting to hear these upper and working class people analyze happiness through their own background. What we gather is that social classes are less and less insurmountable barriers but they used to be quite tangible factors before, although not being obstacles to happiness. Now that everyone has access to the rest of the world, you can be aware of what you're missing and try to overcome your condition, the days of resignation are over. As for fame, these men and women became like British pupils instantly recognized, especially every seven years and incarnating a generation, a human snapshot of Britain in constant evolution.If the show was made today, it would have featured more middle-class people, more women, certainly more ethnic or sexual minorities, like some marketing panel but you don't feel anything lacking in the series as we've been following them since they were 7 and they are literally part of our families. And from their respective journey, we have the opportunity to observe the evolution of British landscape, if not clear reflections, they're providential windows to their country, to the world, to life, to our own existences.

As a UK-born and resident who is 2 years older than the participants of this series, all I can say to Michael Apted is thank you. This series has been a record of the social, economic and cultural influences over my own life. It may surprise some of your US readers to know that there was a brief window of opportunity for working class (blue collar)kids in the late 70's and early 80's to access higher education in the UK. It is a pity that no-one in the 7up series accessed such chances as I did; now working as a forensic psychologist (having left high school at 16 with nothing worth a damn). Nevertheless, I feel enormously proud of the working class kids in the series in the way they have handled the challenges of their twenties and thirties; I am so pleased that Apted has reflected their lives without judgement. As a woman, I am equally proud of Suzie, who survived probably the most apparently 'deprived' childhood to grow into a confident, warm and happy wife and mother. Finally, who could fail to have a corner of their heart reserved for Neil and for Bruce who reached out a helping hand - these people feel like my friends. Thank you so much to all of you for sharing your lives so generously - please don't stop. I am REALLY looking forward to my next 'postcard' from you in 49 UP. You have been, and will continue to be,an inspiration to others in your simple humanity and your enormous dignity, reflected so skilfully by Michael Apted. Love him or hate him, at least he has remained loyal to this fantastic and unparallelled project.

One of the most important ongoing social and cultural projects of our time, this series of films has documented the lives of a number of people from the age of seven up. Currently the participants are in their mid-forties, now in a position to reflect on the past as well as to speculate about their future from a reasonably well-informed perspective. It is truly fascinating to get even this brief glimpse of how these people have progressed through their lives, from the fresh enthusiasm of early childhood through the angst and pain of the teen years, then coping with the various ups and downs of adulthood. Many have children of their own; some have lost parents along the way. Most have remained in their native England, where social class is more of an issue than here in the States. Class struggle is a topic of discussion in the film, though touched upon rather briefly.This reviewer has been watching Michael Apted's project for the past fourteen years and is approximately the same age as the participants, a fact which makes the film that much more involving. One feels a connection with these people. Reviewing these people's lives is much like looking back at one's own, which strengthens the feelings of warmth and familiarity that this film evokes.Mr. Apted has done an excellent job with these films and the reviewer wishes to express appreciation to him as well as to the interviewees.

I've only seen "28 Up" and "35 Up". Those were fascinating interesting films, dealing with all types of people and all types of issues in their lives. At ages 28 and 35 people are trying to see where to go what to do, etc. By 42 they're all married or bringing up kids. So the whole movie is about dealing with marriage and kids. Fascinating if you're one of two--dull if you're not. It started off well enough, but it seemed to keep rehashing itself (if I had heard ONE more comment about how hard it is to make marriage work...). About half of it was interesting, and it always a kick seeing these people literally grow up, but it's run it's course. Let's hope there's not a 49 Up!