Electrical store worker Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrel) is a kind hearted man with an embarrassing secret; he’s a virgin. At 40 years old Andy has been waiting all his life to pop his cherry but unfortunately it’s just never happened and the longer he wait’s the harder it gets… literally!
When Andy accidentally lets slip that he’s a virgin to some of his colleagues at a poker game they immediately mock him however they vow to get him laid by any means possible. They take Andy out for drinks and pretty much hand him a woman on a plate however Andy fails to do the deed. Then he meets Trish (Catherine Keener) a good looking middle aged woman with a family, could she be the one that Andy finally loses it to?
This is a film that I’ve loved ever since it was released and for me it’s a film that can be watched over and over again. Usually I don’t enjoy these sorts of comedies, I find they’re too crude and idiotic for me and I like my humour to be a little more unobvious. Everything about this film told me that I wouldn’t like it; it’s all about sex so I assumed it was just going to be full of innuendos and lame gags, it features Seth Rogen who I hate with a passion and it’s another in a long list of comedies directed and produced by Judd Apatow who’s films I tend to steer clear of.
I think it’s Steve Carrel that really makes this film what it is for me, I think he can be a hilariously funny actor given the right script. I’ve seen films starring him that
have been extremely funny (Bruce Almighty) and then I’ve seen films where he’s been given a useless script and in turn he comes across as a complete plank (Evan Almighty). Luckily Steve Carrel has a faultless script to work with and an adorable character to play. You can’t help but fall in love with Andy, he’s a typical nerd who collects action figures and is extremely neurotic however he’s hilarious right from the start where you see clips off him waking up with morning glory and riding his old lady style bike to work. Andy is a brilliant character and never fails to make me laugh, if this were any other actor I wouldn’t find the scenes half as funny; that chest waxing scene is a classic!
What annoys me about Judd Apatow’s films is that he always follows the same format with the exact same cast, there’s no real way to differentiate between his films which is part of the reason why I tend to stay away from them. The comedy that he uses in his films tends to revolve around sex and drugs and after seeing the likes of the diabolical Knocked Up, Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall it’s put me off his films for life. The 40 Year Old Virgin follows exactly the same format as his other inferior films; it’s all about sex and it includes his usual batch of ‘comedy’ actors including: Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and his wife Leslie Mann however there’s just something about this film that makes it stand out as Judd Apatow’s best comedy by far.
The relationship between Andy and Trish developed wonderfully well and it was great to see that she was willing to wait until he was ready. Ultimately the film is predictable though, when the guys try and set Andy up with the numerous drunk whores it’s obvious that he’s not going to sleep with them and instead he’s going to meet the woman of his dreams however the enjoyment isn’t in the predictability/unpredictability of it all, it’s about the build up and the journey that Andy goes on which is both entertaining, funny and heart-warming.
The story is very relatable, I’m sure there aren’t many 40 year old virgins out there but everyone knows how scary it is to lose their virginity and if you’ve waited until you’re 40 it must be that much more nerve-racking. It really makes you sympathise with Andy and his struggle because although he’s a bit of a nerd with not much of a social life he’s still just a regular nice guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. The bonding that the men go through with Andy is brilliant to watch, from them first thinking that he’s a serial killer to them deciding to help him lose his virginity is brilliant to watch and is something that any man will be able to relate to because the biggest topic that men love to talk about (apart from football) is sex!
These days so much pressure is put on losing your virginity, especially if you’re a guy because if you haven’t lost it by the time you hit 18 you’re likely to be ridiculed by all your mates until you finally lose it. The 40 Year Old Virgin, in a way shows that it can ok to wait until you’re ready however it still manages to stay true to life with Andy’s fears and his colleagues ripping him to shreds over it. I’m glad this film didn’t take an unrealistic approach and make everyone seem whiter than white.
I think the comedy is surprisingly docile for a Judd Apatow film, especially for a film that revolves around sex, there’s both subtle comedy and in your face gags. This film is really outstanding for me because a lot of the gags in this film wouldn’t make me laugh in others, the scene where Leslie Mann is drunk, driving her car home singing along to Missy Elliot had me in stitches which is much like the rest of the film. I was glad that the gags don’t get too crude and over the top which was what I was expecting, there are a few jokes that let the side down, mainly involving that idiot Seth Rogen but the majority hit the right note and will have both men and women laughing their socks off.
I’d highly recommend this film to anyone who hasn’t seen it, it’s not likely to be everyone’s cup of tea which could be said for every Judd Apatow film but this really is an exception to the rule when I say that all his films are dire! This is a film that appeals to both men and women and is highly worth a watch.
The DVD is currently available from play.com for £2.99.
The special features include: Extended and deleted scenes 'Waxing Doc' featurette 'My Dinner With Stormy' featurette Gag reel Easter Egg (hidden feature) Promotional trailers for 'The Skeleton Key' and 'Serenity'
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Cult comic actor Steve Carell--long adored for his supporting work onThe Daily Showand in ... more
movies likeBruce AlmightyandAnchorman--leaps into leading man status with The 40 Year-Old Virgin. There's no point describing the plot; it's about how a 40 year-o...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Cult comic actor Steve Carell--long adored for his supporting work onThe Daily Showand in ... more
movies likeBruce AlmightyandAnchorman--leaps into leading man status withThe 40 Year-Old Virgin. There's no point describing the plot; it's about how a 40 year-ol...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Cult comic actor Steve Carell--long adored for his supporting work onThe Daily Showand in ... more
movies likeBruce AlmightyandAnchorman--leaps into leading man status with The 40 Year-Old Virgin. There's no point describing the plot; it's about how a 40 year-o...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Better Late Than Never 40-year old Andy Stizer (Steve Carell) has done quite a few things ... more
in his life. He's got a cushy job at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of action figures. But there's just one thing he hasn't g...
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