Universal Pictures Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd
Directed By: Judd Apatow
Rated: R (Language, Sexuality)
Universal Pictures
I've always said that not every movie needs to strive to be The Godfather or Schindler's List. There's plenty of room in the world for mindless, fun films--and it's in that category that The 40-Year-Old Virgin squarely falls.
Steve Carell plays Andy Stitzer, a likeable but shy 40-year-old guy who has never slept with a woman before. He kind of keeps to himself for the most part, socializing with his work colleagues only enough to get through the day, and then retiring to his tiny apartment that is filled to the brim with toys, action figures, and video games. When his work buddies invite him to a poker game one night, they find out he's an okay guy--but they also guess his secret. Of course, social mores being what they are, this casts a stigma on Andy, and his helpful friends set out to get Andy laid. Hilarity ensues.
There is nothing surprising or ground-breaking about this film (as one might expect). Andy's bumbling way with women is played to the hilt, as is his perceived geekiness. (There is the implication that there is something terribly wrong about being a 40-year-old man who has lots of toys, action figures, and video games--an implication I take some personal offense to as a 40-year-old man with lots of toys, action figures, and video games.)
I do take one thing back--there is one surprise in the film. One expects that Andy's friends, to whom sex is the end-all, be-all of existence, will learn from Andy's example that this is not, in fact, the case. That doesn't happen. Well, maybe it does to one of the three, but not to the other two.
There are lots of funny bits in the film--the ending is especially hilarious in a movie musical sort of way--but nothing particularly uproarious. The 40-Year-Old Virgin is definitely the kind of movie to see at a matinee or on DVD after you've had a beer or two.
Bottom line: Amusing, but not hilarious.