Some directors have carved out a career for themselves by making the same movie over and over again.
The same might be said of Michael Apted, whose "7 Up" movies could be accused of being formulaic and repetitive. But there's a perfectly good reason for the film to be both of those things.
What actually began in 1964 as part of the "World in Action" television program for the BBC has taken on a life of its own as Apted has continued to follow the goings-on of all — or at least most — of the same interview subjects every seven years to see what's been going on in their lives.
And what's emerged is not only a continually fascinating portrait of the interviewees, it's also a moving sociological portrait of England and everyday life.
In terms of documentary filmmaking, the movies are nothing fancy. In fact, they consist solely of 10- to 15-minute interviews, as well as a lot of recapping. And for some of the subjects, not a lot has changed.
For instance, Tony Walker is still working as a cabbie in London. But he has had his share of marital problems and financial woes during that time.
Symon Basterfield is now working on his second, seemingly more successful marriage.
Meanwhile, perpetual bachelor Bruce Balden has finally gotten married — to a fellow educator at the Catholic girls school where he's teaching.
Both Jacqueline Bassett and Lynn Johnson are now single mothers.
And Paul Kligerman still suffers from a crippling lack of self-confidence.
The single most astonishing transformation of the bunch, though, may be that of Neil Hughes, the former world traveler (or transient, to be more specific) who now finds himself representing others as an elected but unpaid politician.
If you didn't know better, you'd swear that Apted had scripted some of the goings-on — there are some eerily, parallel happenings in the subjects' lives.
However, it helps that almost all of the group are so likable that you want to know what they've been up to — and it will make you look forward to another round of "catching up" seven years from now.
"42: Forty Two Up" is not rated but would probably receive a PG for scattered mild profanities, some religiously based, and a brief scene of a childhood scuffle. Running time: 139 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com