Movie Review: The 40 Year Old Virgin
Note to readers: this review is based on the unrated DVD version of the movie.
Andy is a 40-year old guy with a pretty good life. He has a good job at a Circuit City clone, a house full of action figures and video games, and good neighbors he watches Survivor with. The one thing lacking is, as you may have surmised from the title, a woman in his life. Ever. He missed his chance when he was younger, and now has simply given up and resigned himself to his life of lonliness.
Wacky hijinks ensue when Andy's buddies find out his closely guarded secret. They proceed to take him on a tour of modern dating which involves picking up drunk chicks in a bar, speed dating, and chest waxing. All in an effort to introduce Andy to the mysteries of love. Along the way, Andy meets Trish, a divorced mother of three. After a rough dating start, Trish suggests that they postpone sex until they know each other better. Andy, who is worried about revealing his virginity, eagerly agrees. Eventually Andy grows up and has a mature, honest relationship with Trish. In parallel with Andy, his buddies also go from different but equally immature lives, to accepting adult responsibility.
This is a really funny movie on many levels, and has the one ingredient that makes a movie like this more than just a raunchy comedy: Lovable characters. Andy is good guy stuck in a rut and his buddies are genuinely concerned about him and want to help. His friends, a "player", a pothead, and a guy obsessing over a two-year old breakup, provide much comedy as well as a look at guys who are just as stuck in childhood as Andy, but in different ways.
Another strength is the movie's minor characters. From Linda the store manager, to Mooj the Pakistani salesman, to the women Andy tries to hookup with, all provide some great comedy moments.
While the movie is sure to offend nearly everyone with its relentless harsh language, racial and sexual stereotypes, and gratuitous sex and nudity, it is a very well done comedy.
The extras on the DVD are worth watching as well. They are all deleted scenes and extensions of scenes and are funny also. I didn't listen to all of the director and cast commentary, but it was interesting to hear them talk about how much of the movie was ad libbed, including the "I know you're gay" scene which actually went on much longer, and the scene where Andy and Cal compare weekends.
Rating: 5 stars - 1 star(no Salma) + 1 star(for making me laugh out loud) - 1/2 star(showing naked women but no really good looking ones) = 4.5 stars
Most disturbing part of the movie: How much Andy's apartment resembled my house.
How do I know you're gay? Because you were in the Spanish Armada.
posted by Mike @ 4:58 PM
3 Comments:
This is a movie which I have actually seen in the theater. (I can't resist Steve Carell.)
I'm going to give it 4.5 stars as well. -0.5 for not being in outer space.
Just knowing that our society can still produce something so offensive to so many people, yet be quite clever really improves my mood and gives me hope for the future.
I would have even bought the DVD if it weren't for the fact that Erika will eventually understand English, find it in my secret place, and watch it. A lot of unanswered questions would come up I'm sure. I, personally, don't want her to see this movie until she is at least older than I am now.
Maybe only men should see this movie. Girls should not since it will give them way too much information about what we're really thinking.
Anyway, after seeing the movie, I felt about as good as Oscar Goldman in the origional box. I haven't felt that way since.
Let me say one more thing. I assume Kendall has not seen this movie because his wife is too smart for that. So, Mike, you have to invite him over to see it.
I think one of the secrets to the movie's success is that it is an equal opportunity offender. Everyone from men to women to gays to most of the worlds major ethnic groups are mocked. They even mock a few more in the commentary.
Good point about how women shouldn't see it. The fact of our complete pig-like nature should be a closely guarded secret Like the recipe for Tab.
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