Ahoy, squirts. Quint here with an early review of Carell's THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. We got this hot on the heels of the trailer hitting online. I really like this review... it very nicely highlights what works (the majority) and what doesn't (the minority). The poster, the trailer and now this review really have me looking forward to this movie. Carell rules! Keep in mind this was a test screening and it's not finished yet. As with all comedy, the magic spot is in the timing and that's what they're still working on. Some spoilers below. Enjoy!
Hi-de-ho, Harry. This is Nuggetbuster, freshly out of a test screening for Steve Carell’s new comedy flick “The 40 Year-Old Virgin”. Let me preface by saying I’m not exactly a movie reviewing connoisseur, but I do like to laugh and I think Steve Carell is freaking hilarious.
On that note, I will tell you that I laughed heartily at this movie. From the opening scene featuring an American Pie-esque boner, to the final (totally unexpected) ending, I was in stitches, along with the rest of the audience.
The premise is this (lots of spoilers ahead, so beware), Andy Stitzer (Carell) is one of those obsessive-compulsive, content in his little bubble, 40 year old Geek Squad kind of guys at a glamour mall electronics store. He lives happily in his cubby off the floor, and really would prefer to deal with his massive collection of action figures and video games than actual … people. Especially people with boobies. As it is, he’s had a few bad run-ins with adolescent sex attempts, and has thus lost his mojo.
However, he gets sucked into a poker game with a group of co-workers who he has never before associated with, and through the course of the night it becomes apparent that Andy is, as the title tells, a 40 year-old virgin. The other poker players (Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen) make it their vow to get Andy some sort of pussy (a word that will be repeated hundreds of times throughout the course of the movie), even if it is some “hoodrat trash”.
As you can amicably predict, the first several attempts by Andy are failed and/or shocking, thus rendering him completely useless in the face of dating. Egged on, however, he eventually starts coming out of his shell and gets promoted at work, etc. etc. re: starts becoming “normal”. The highlight of all this is a very hilarious chest-waxing scene (no special effects used … poor Steve), and an encounter with his “me so horny” lonely boss (Jane Lynch). All of this culminates in Andy finding his dream woman (Catherine Keener) from across the way, and the cookie cutter romantic comedy birthing of their sex-free relationship, motivated mostly by his fear to admit that he still has his “flower”. Their relationship is “purified” by Andy’s charm and extra-kind treatment of Trish’s children. As it turns out, Trish tries to help Andy become a grown-up, which at first he loves but eventually rejects and ends the relationship. The ending is fairly predictable, with he and woman getting married and having a one-minute rendezvous on their honeymoon. The very tail part of the end is a hilarious dance scene … never expected it, but leave it to Steve Carell.
So, I laughed. But in all honesty, this movie was WAY too long and just felt … weird. Many of the poontang attempts were way too long and just not interesting. There was no BANG, this is funny. This was highlighted by the fact that this whole time I felt as if I should be watching a bunch of teenagers and/or college students making these immature attempts at sex. But the truth is, it was a coming of age film starring a bunch of folk that have, or should have, already come of age. I suppose you could throw this into the American Pie meets Revenge of the Nerds category, but without the American Pie shock or the Revenge of the Nerds charm. Steve Carell himself plays his character perfectly, adding the right amount of goofiness without going overboard. Catherfine Keener never really did it for me as the love interest, something felt to shallow about her character (but perhaps that was the point). Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and especially Seth Rogen really did fantastic as supporting characters … adding a fairly strong, if not redundant, catalyst to Andy’s need to get some booty. All around good acting marks.
All said and done, I hope the really work to sharpen up the editing and cut out some of the more redundant parts of the film. I’m struggling with whether or not to recommend this one to friends… as I said, it was funny. But the laughs felt cheap. Not sure if my expectations are too high, or if I really AM sick of sex-flicks ….
If this review is useful, I’m Nuggetbuster. Thanks for the site, it’s always rousing good.