Dir.
Judd Apatow, US , 2005, 116mins
Cast:
Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd
Despite its title, "The 40 Year Old Virgin" is actually sweet rather than smutty, often evoking wry grins of recognition rather than raucous laughs. There are of course frank jokes about sex, some of them very funny, but it manages largely to avoid the coarse, bodily fluids type of humour favoured by film makers such as the Farrelly Brothers. The virgin of the title is Andy (Steve Carrell), who works in a lowly capacity in an electronics store, and has somehow, after one disasterous youthful attempt, managed to avoid ever doing what's supposed to come naturally, preferring to sublimate his energies into his collection of childhood toys, some still in their original packaging, his exercise machine and watching "Survivor" on television with his elderly neighbours. Then one evening while playing poker with his three chums from the store and trying to match their sexual boasting, he inadvertantly gives away his secret and the guys decide it is their sacred duty to rid Andy of his virginal burden.
The first half of the film is more a series of linked sketches, as Andy's pals lead him into one debacle after another, including a visit to a night club, where the drunken ladettes are enough to scare any guy, virgin or otherwise, and a painful and very funny trip to a beauty parlour to have his chest hair waxed. Ouch. Along the way he meets divorced mother Trish (Catherine Keener), whom he eventually screws up the courage to ask out, but after a disastrous attempt at "doing it", in which he demonstrates his complete incompetence when it comes to condoms (a commodity which features frequently in American sex scenes these days - is it a public education programme?) and which is mercifully interrupted by her teenage daughter, they agree on a no sex pact for the time being to give themselves a chance to get to know each other, much to Andy's relief. And then of course true romance blooms.
Carrell, who also co-wrote the film based on a sketch idea he had in his Second City improvisation days, is best known as a television comedian in the States. He also played the David Brent role in the American version of "The Office". He is not good looking but is very appealing in the role, hapless and vulnerable. His three buddies are well contrasted. Paul Rudd (Phoebe's boyfriend in the last series of "Friends") plays Dave, who despite his tough guy talk, is a hopeless romantic, still in love with the girl who dumped him. In one rather poignant scene, when he accompanies Andy on a speed dating session, he bumps into his ex and collapses in a wet heap. Romany Malco is the married but compulsively cheating Jay and Seth Rogan the shaggy and clueless Cal . One of the things I really like about the film is its honesty about men and sex and the way they feel forced to lie about their prowess and hide their true feelings. I could however have done with more of the lovely Ms Keener, who has little to do for the first half of the film.
And yes, you've guessed it. You have to wait till the very, very end, but come the credits, Andy is a virgin no more!
Carol Allen
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