Steve Carell and Judd Apatow are HILARIOUS

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2008)

I have been a fan of Steve Carell since I originally saw him as a correspondent on Comedy Central's Daily Show though I never imagined him branching out into feature films; I definitely didn't foresee him headlining his OWN movie. Carell portrays Andy Stitzer, the titular virgin who's co-workers make it their ultimate goal to help Andy get laid for the first time. Simple premise, hilarious pay-off. I can honestly (and easily) say this ranks as one of my favorite comedies; it has also brought Steve Carell, Seth Rogan, and Paul Rudd to my attention as some of the funniest actors working today.
A good portion of the movie contains improvised dialogue, which helps give it a genuine feel of chemistry between the entire cast. It really was the cast that made this movie so enjoyable. Steve Carell's great performance is backed up by Seth Rogan (one of my favorite recent comedian/actors), Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch, Romany Malco, and Gerry Bednob. The combined comedic skills of this cast make it one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Keeping the movie grounded is a Catherine Keener as Andy's love interest, Trish. Keener provides some laughs, but she primarily keeps the movie from feeling completely low-brow by giving the movie it's heart.
This movie also helped me realize just how desensitized I've become to modern movies. I've only ever seen the unrated DVD, never the theatrical release. Before I'd actually watched the movie, I heard all the stories about how raunchy it was and how crazy some of the scenes were. After watching it, sure I'd laughed myself crazy but I still couldn't help but wonder...what's the big deal? I'd recently discovered the "unrated" version would've been NC-17. Whoa. Once I thought about it, yeah, I guess I can see where some of the risquÃ© moments might've been a bit much for someone who's a bit more sensitive about the subject matter (i.e. Mooj's relationship advice). So, yeah, if you're more of a conservative person, maybe you should avoid this little gem (though know, you are missing out on a hilarious film). Judd Apatow's feature film directorial debut should NOT be missed.