The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) * * *

 

Directed by:  Judd Apatow

Starring:  Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Catherine Keener, Elizabeth Banks, Romany Malco, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann, Kat Dennings, Mindy Kaling, Shelley Malil, Gerry Bednob

The 40-Year-Old Virgin cheerfully follows the exploits of Andy (Carell), a 40-year-old electronics store employee who to the amazement of everyone is still a virgin.  His friends and co-workers Cal (Rogen), Dave (Rudd), and Jay (Malco) do their damndest to correct this, including setting him up on dates, hiring a prostitute (who turns out to be a man), and other assorted plots which result in Andy still being a virgin.  The hope on the horizon is the arrival of Trish (Keener), a single mother who works at the eBay store across the way and takes a liking to Andy.  

Andy falls for Trish, but doesn't reveal that he has never had sex.  When Trish advises to wait twenty dates until being intimate, Andy is beyond relieved.  The 40-Year-Old Virgin isn't built for realism.  It's made for laughs and there are plenty of them, not necessarily with the slapstick scenes (although the hairy Andy getting his chest hair waxed is funny) or the bodily fluid bits, but from the witty dialogue and one-liners.  Andy, as played by Carell, is a kind fellow whose life was uncomplicated and even happy before his buddies decided to try and get him laid.  Each of the performances by Rogen, Rudd, and Malco suggest their stubborn attempts to rid Andy of his virginity hide deep insecurities, which makes them both funny and a little sad.   Dave, for example, still hasn't gotten over a breakup from two years ago.  He has the misfortune of running into his former flame at a speed-dating event.  (Remember those?)

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a product of another time.  It doesn't have any issues with being raunchy or even offensive.  Most of the gags hit, some miss, but Judd Apatow isn't afraid to try.  His later comedies didn't reach the heights (or depths) of the 40-Year-Old Virgin, but he appreciates some good old-fashioned humor which isn't afraid to offend.