Movie Review

The 40 Year-Old Virgin

Now here's an in-your-face title. This film, written by and starring Steve Carell, does put all of its characters' issues right out front; it is about a man of 40 who has never managed to do the dirty deed. This concept leads to a story that sticks to its guns: the on-the-mark humor mixes with solid thematic ideas and attaches to Carell's impressively vulnerable persona (both as the lead character and as a self-effacing writer). This is one of my favorite comedies of the last few years and is the funniest movie that I've seen so far in 2005.

Carell plays Andy Stitzer, a man who is boyish in both looks and personality. We see his apartment, a set of rooms absolutely stuffed to the brim with toys, posters, comic books, action figures, and every other hallmark of someone who is such a nerd that it's really all they got going for 'em. He even has a nice video game chair (it has controllers built into the armrests). He works in the backroom of a Circuit City-type electronics shop, sharing a very small space with Jay (Romany Malco). When Jay and two other employees (Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen) want to play poker one night but are short a person, they grudgingly ask Andy to join them. They know Andy as a nerdy loner type, but none have really ever conversed with him.

During the course of the card game, Andy lets the brutal truth slip out about his virginity. The boys are shocked and amazed, and start ridiculing Andy by telling everyone at the store. But then the boys see a real chance to fully mentor somebody in the fine arts of dating and getting laid. They decide to take the high road and choose to help Andy by taking him to clubs, getting him drunk and stoned, and pressuring him in a friendly way to interact with women. At around the same time, Andy meets Trish (Catherine Keener), who is searching for a VCR at the store ("It's pretty much a dead technology," he explains). Trish is intrigued and gives Andy her number, which isn't that necessary considering she works right across the street. Armed with resolve and guidance from his new buddies, Andy now has all the tools at his disposal to spice up his life.

The great thing about this movie in terms of comedy is that it made me laugh consistently. Some comedies have decent laughs but then follow them up with several minutes of stone-faced silence, or even (blech!!) drama. This screenplay isn't about setting up just three or four good gags; it's about zinger after zinger to move the film along at a slaphappy pace. The dialogue is witty and intelligent, combining obligatory yet well done pop-culture references with multifaceted advice about women and relationships. This is a classic "guy movie," with all the raunch and irreverence any dude could ask for. But it doesn't sacrifice its brain or its heart. This movie reminded me of Bad Santa (A-) and The Tao of Steve (B+), both great comedies. But 40-Year Old Virgin stakes out its own territory; it doesn't try to be anything else other than itself.

It is clear after watching this movie that Steve Carell is a huge comic talent. I feel bad because in my review of Bewitched I trash his short performance in that movie. While I hold fast to that assertion, my general opinion about Carell has definitely changed: The 40-Year Old Virgin marks him as someone whose work is to be anticipated. He has positioned himself as a breath of fresh air in a dismal movie landscape. I hope he keeps it coming and remains qualitatively productive. I can't wait for The 42-Year Old Nymphomaniac.

Scott's Grade: B+
Ranked #1 of 3 between Mondovino (#2) and (#) for 2005 movies.

A	15.1%
B	59.2%
C	24.5%
D	1.2%
F	0.0%