CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

The 40 Year Old Virgin

Director

Judd Apatow

Year

2005

Rating

Reviewed by

José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris

Review date

Monday, October 10, 2005

I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this movie. It got good reviews and became a late summer hit, but still, I had never really seen Steve Carell in anything and at almost two hours I thought the movie had to be really good to keep the momentum going. I had also seen the trailers a lot of times, and with this kind of comedy, trailers usually ruin the best jokes. I was skeptical, and after the credits rolled, I became a believer.

Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is a lonely geek who gets a kick out of collecting toy figures, playing videogames and watching “Survivor” with his neighbors. He works at an electronics store, where one night his co-workers David (Paul Rudd), Jay (Romany Malco), and Cal (Seth Rogen) find out that he’s still a virgin... and determine to change that. Hilarity ensues. But when a friendly customer, Trish (Catherine Keener), shows a sudden serious interest in Andy, his perspective changes a bit, or not.

When you get a movie with a title like this, you kind of know what to expect. Wrong! The 40 Year Old Virgin is not only a crude R-rated sex comedy, it is also a sweet endeavor where love and friendship take center stage. Sure, it is filled, and I mean, filled, with laugh-out-loud romps and sequences that highlight the movie’s lighter tone. But it also has a strong undercurrent of what really matters in life, and it’s done without ever losing comedic momentum. The movie really is funny from start to finish, and I was shocked by that.

Kudos to co-writers Carrell and director Judd Apatow. They bring a good level of sincerity to an otherwise silly movie. Their kind of comedy never feels forced and is almost always on-target. I cannot even mention all the great scenes because there are too many of them, but some that come to mind involve waxing, condoms, flirting at a nearby library, speed-dating, urinating, singing Guatemalan songs, getting into a bathtub, and an absolutely unexpected finale that makes absolutely no sense yet feels perfect for the movie.

That said, there is a sight-gag involving Andy and Trish just before that ending that is the funniest thing in the movie… at least to me.

I also loved the evolving romance between these two. They’re mature, easy-going and have real chemistry. I went with the flow and enjoyed the hell out of their relationship.

Steve Carell is really funny. I know that’s not news, but I just wish he can maintain this level of finesse in his acting choices, and not go all Will Ferrell on us. His comedic timing is extraordinary. Also showing up to give the movie a slice of credibility is the always-amazing Catherine Keener, who’s ravishing. Yet every supporting member is perfect in their parts from Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen to Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch, Gerry Bednob, Kat Dennings, Jordy Masterson and Chelsea Smith.

“Do you like to... do it yourself?”

CriticSociety en Twitter | CriticSociety en Facebook

Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter

Other reviews of The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005): Groucho