A Review by Phil Calabro
2005, Universal Pictures, Dir. Judd Apatow - Starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch, Gerry Bednob, Shelley Malil, Kat Dennings, Jordan Masterson, Chelsea Smith, Jonah Smith
I didn't laugh quite as much as I wanted to during 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin', but I certainly enjoyed it more than I would've imagined. This is Steve Carell's big chance to show Hollywood hot-shots that he has what it takes to carry on a lead role, and he overachieved on the laugh meter this time around. Buried beneath this semi-Frat Pack blend of filth, innuendo, and inexplicable vulgarity is a tender and saccharine love story waiting to be unleashed. It also - and I'm not making this an extremity - makes an argument for real love, which most movies with a sexual attitude normally ignore. Director Judd Apatow treats his subject matter with caution and great comedic effect - he doesn't want to dilute the storyline for cheap horny thrills, but still keep the laughter rolling for its runtime. 'American Pie' this isn't.
Andy Stitzer (Carell) appears to be living a carefree life. Still a swinging single, he holds an enormous collection of priceless action figures and is an avid video game addict, which he spends a lot of time playing around with. When he's not hanging out painting his orc army, Andy works at an electronics store with his buddies - Jay (Malco), a clubbing party boy; Cal (Rogen), a pot-smoking horndog; and David (Rudd), a caring young man who still can't get over his last breakup. But Andy has something particular about him that seperates him from the rest - he's still a virgin. At the shear thought of this, his friends take all measures just to get him laid. But our hero eventually finds love in a single mother, Trish (Keener), who shows an equal amount of interest in Andy - and he may have found a ticket into the world of love without worries about his non-existant sex life.
Steve Carell proves his comedic abilities, especially when carrying a main role like Andy. He has been the supporting star of movies like 'Anchorman' and 'Bruce Almighty', but never been given the chance to helm the cast until Universal has offered him. He plays naive like his personality is written on the back of his hand, and is curious as that lost little monkey. The more we get to know Andy, the funnier he becomes and the more comfortable he becomes with the audience, therefore giving way to great delivery. Catherine Keener is sweet and sensitive as Trish, and I suppose there wasn't much more for her to do in the role. Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen are all hilarious contrasts to the innocent and soft-centered Carell, put on the backburner of the film but never forgotten.
I'll admit that the first ten to fifteen minutes of the movie run very slowly and aren't all that funny, but it's afterwards where the real joy comes in. The screenwriters have a ball making the most out of Andy's virginity, almost making it a madcap rush to have him lose it. In an adventure into the unknown, Andy gets caught up in some weird and disturbing incidents that really give the movie a slam-bang introduction. Sure, it's a predictable movie in the most basic sense, but there are small chunks of the film that allow for improvisational humor and have the audience 'expect the unexpected'. The movie's finale is by far the year's best, and had me laughing out of my seat. Only a set of creative writers such as Carell would've thought of something so clever and hysterical. (I'm not going to spoil it, but I can assure you'll laugh.)
'40 Year-Old Virgin' is a charming movie with the dirty nature of this year's great 'Wedding Crashers' and the heart of an hidden love story. I feel that Apatow and Carell really did respect the nature of the movie's character, but didn't want to butter the situation up. The result is perfect - hilarious but solid, a real icebreaker for the new fall season.
