the feel-good movie of the year

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 2006)

As much as you might, don't think that this movie is a raunchy sex comedy with borderline porn material in it, because it's not. What you'll get when you watch this is a clever, smart, and hilarious romantic comedy that anyone can enjoy. My 58 year old stepdad and 51 year old mother loved it. I (17) loved it. My older sister (23) loved it. All my friends loved it, too.
The film stars Golden Globe Winner Steve Carell in a breakout role as Andy Stitzer, your every day nice guy who is 40 and has yet to consummate in a relationship. He reveals it sort of accidentally while playing poker with a few co-workers. Soon, Jay, Cal (Seth Rogen), and David (Paul Rudd) will attempt to get Andy laid, hooking trying to hook him up with a crazy drunk girl (Leslie Mann) and a sexy bookstore employee (Elizabeth Banks). But all this doesn't matter to Andy, for he has found a woman that he's infatuated with: entrepreneur Trish (2006 Oscar Nominee Catherine Keener), a gorgeous single GRANDmother who's business will amuse us. Andy and Trish eventually begin to date, and we see how their relationship is affected by Andy's big secret and his desire to not tell her.
The supporting cast is off the wall hilarious, especially Seth Rogen. This is also a breakout film for him, and he'll be remembered for a while as 'that big, funny guy from The 40 Year Old Virgin'. Of course, the film's success rides on Carell's shoulders, and he is just awesome. He makes Andy such a likable character, and throws in the occasional joke. Most of the humor comes from the supporting cast. Even Catherine Keener has some really funny lines, like when Andy calls her, but doesn't tell her it's him, and she thinks he's a telemarketer. That quick little exchange is really funny. Also a nice surprise is Jane Lynch as Andy's boss, who offers to be a special friend with Andy.
What makes this film so warm-hearted is it's light humor, yet raunchy and hilarious moments. They are all gelled together so well, and it makes the film great. The only downside to the film is that it is far too long for a comedy. The unrated version (which, had it been in theaters, it would have easily been rated NC-17) is even longer, almost 2 hrs. and 20 mins. It is because of this that the movie does drag a bit, but Carell manages to keep it interesting the whole way. The ending is excellent as well. The 40 Year Old Virgin is a comedy cult classic, with stupid, smart, and raunchy humor wrapped around the core that is a great romantic comedy. It's a film you'll watch again and again, just as I have.
8/10 --spy