At its best it resembles one of those classic early-’80s comedies starring Steve Martin -- the thinking man’s Woody Allen -- boasting an acute mix of desperation, dignity, lunacy and indecorous wit.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
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Reviews Counted:174
Fresh:148
Rotten:26
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: Steve Carell's first star turn scores big with a tender treatment of its titular underdog, using raunchy but realistically funny comedy to connect with adult audiences.
Runtime: 2 hrs 13 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: 40-year-old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrell) has done quite a few things in his life. He's got a cushy job stamping invoices at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of... 40-year-old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrell) has done quite a few things in his life. He's got a cushy job stamping invoices at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of action figures and comic books, good friends, a nice attitude. But there's just one little thing he hasn't quite gotten around to doing yet--something most people have done by his age. Done a lot. Andy's never, ever, ever had sex--not even by accident. So is that such a big deal? Well, for Andy's buds at the store, it sure is. Although they think he's a bit of an oddball, there's certainly a planetful of stranger (and homelier) guys who've at least had one go at having a go. They consider it their duty to help Andy out of his dire situation and go to great lengths to help him. But nothing proves effective enough to lure their friend out of lifelong chastity until he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a 40-year-old mother of three. Andy's friends are psyched by the possibility that "it" may finally happen...until they hear that Andy and Trish have begun their relationship based on a mutual no-sex policy. Comedy writer and producer Judd Apatow (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, TV's Freaks and Geeks, Kicking & Screaming) makes his feature film directorial debut with The 40 Year Old Virgin, starring Steve Carrell (Anchorman, Bruce Almighty, TV's The Daily Show) and Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich, The Interpreter) and an ensemble cast including Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Gerry Bednob, Shelley Malil, Chelsea Smith and Nancy Walls. Apatow also co-writes the script with Carrell and produces along with Shauna Robertson (Elf) and Clayton Townsend (The Skeleton Key). [More]
Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco
Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch
Director: Judd Apatow
Director: Judd Apatow
Screenwriter: Judd Apatow, Steve Carell
Producer: Shauna Robertson, Clayton Townsend, Judd Apatow
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for The 40-Year-Old Virgin
There are moments of macho overindulgence but, for the most part, it's perfectly pitched and splendidly funny.
Keener is as adorable as ever and there's a chemistry between her and Carell that takes you by surprise.
With some serious editing, this could've been one of the comedies of the year. As it is, it's strictly one for the lads.
Overlong and slightly muddled, this is nevertheless an enjoyable showcase for the superb Steve Carell.
A thoroughly adult comedy that, refreshingly, isn't toned down for the PG-13 brigade.
A ribald, risqué yet surprisingly warm-hearted vehicle for Steve Carell.
Leave it to Judd Apatow to take a simple concept you’d find in basically any sex comedy, and add his own original twist on it.
Mr. Carell and Mr. Apatow traffic in random humor and though their ability to sustain it is impressive, it's at the expense of any real emotion. Which is a bit ironic.
Appeals equally to fans of no-holds-barred gross-out movies and those looking for something more intelligent. It's hilarious, surprisingly perceptive, and even sweet.
An infuriatingly-offensive, soft-porn primer on how to treat girls as objects who exist at the disposal of men.
The movie belongs to Carell, who takes a one-joke role and turns him into a three-dimensional human being.
If it were 20 minutes shorter, it would be that much closer to perfect.
There are lots of stereotypes about grown-up virgins, but the film stands these stereotypes on their head, so much so that, by the end, our protagonist seems like the sanest character of the bunch.
Apatow's sex comedy...hits its stride eventually, and keeps us rooting for it...thanks to its honesty and sweetness
The script is little more than an excuse for letting a bouncy team of sketch comics have their heads. Unlike most films pasted together in this way, it displays a certain cohesion.
The script by Carell and director Judd Apatow is not for the prudish or easily offended. That said, it’s still one of the funniest movies of the year.
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