| Editorial:
40 Year Old Virgin - Publication: Filmstew.com - Review 2006
Back to Editorials
The cynics mantra for this adolescent comedy might ring something like “varying degrees of American cheese.” Its hardly an artsy masterpiece, yet 40 y.o. Virgin does have some redeeming moments – yep, honest, its crass, bombastic and umm, very sweet too. The formula is thus, nerdy 40 year old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrell) eaks out an existence as a sales clerk in an electronics store, collecting action figures and comic books in his spare time. Andy is a loner, content with his solitary world of collectibles and social ineptitude. He one day confides to his work colleagues he has not yet had sex, they are, in the name of enlightened Americana, gratuitously alarmed and in turn dutifully busy for much of the film preparing Andy to be deflowered. Andy's new legion of buddies display many touching moments of concern. David (Paul Rudd), Cal (Seth Rogen) and Jay (Romany Malco), hail from the porn school of sexual awareness, projecting their own politically incorrect ideals onto the clueless Andy. After a series of haphazard and decidedly hilarious dalliances with various women, nothing proves effective enough to lure Andy from his chaste purgatory. Finally he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a 40-year-old mother of three. Then its all downhill from there. Steve Carell first gained recognition on “The Daily Show” as one of John Stewart's roving reporters Now Producer/co-writer and lead for 40 Year Old Virgin, Steve carries the role well, it allows him to exercise his comedic range, more so than on previous outings on the likes of “Anchorman and “Bruce Almighty .. Andy's persona gives depth to this film's seemingly one joke ethos. His obsession with keeping his action figure collection in pristine condition is truly endearing, as is his notion that women's breasts “feel like sand.” Even his lame attempts to talk dirty, bragging that he will give a woman a buzzcut are wonderfully absurd and equally as appealing. Andy's dominance presents many other shining moments including the character accidentally urinating on himself ( facially) same receiving a full body hair wax and being hit on by his female employer. There's also a speed dating sequence and some fun scenes with a sex counselor in which Andy asks “Is it true that if you don't use it, you lose it?” For all its potential offensiveness, 40 Year Old Version pays penance with plenty of pure and humble scenes of make your grandma misty sweetness. Andy's ultimate romance with Trish (Catherine Keener) offers a sugary balance to the film's American Pie type oafishness. Andy likes Trish so much he's too scared to have sex with her. In turn, meaty chunks of raw conservatism permeate the film's smutty overtones, with the capacity to appease even the most sensitive prude or religious extremist. In addition to the Ultimately the film's crass veneer gives way to moralist lobbying. There's all the classic themes hurled at the audience with all the subtlety of a pie in the face ie love and depth winning over sex and superficiality, the innocence and virtue of remaining chaste etc etc, decent, god fearing folks win in the end and for Andy monogamy and true love conquer the demons of promiscuity.
Written by Craig Stephens |