Terrific, Brilliantly Acted

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2005)

I recently caught the eye to see this film in theaters, and when I walked out of it, I had all to say about it.
Before I get into my schpiel on how terrific this movie was, I'd like to say that we will never see a movie that funny, and yet so original ever again, like the greats always say, with great risk comes great reward.
OK, so here it goes. The story begins with a nerdy salesman Andy (Steve Carrell). Andy collects almost every action figure and video game possible and he works at an electronics store with several other execs who are much "cooler" and "in" than Andy is. One night, Andy is invited to a Poker game with these guys, and when the topic of sex is being discussed, its Andy's turn to reveal his dirty secret. And, so the secret is revealed, the guy hasn't gotten much (I apologize, NONE)time in the sack with a woman, other than the other times that he's tried and failed.
Immediately, the group tries to get him laid by doing all means necessary. They start with the basics, using pick up lines, forms of masturbation (forcing him to watch a box load of porn), and taking him to bars with brilliantly pretty woman to waxing his chest and actually talking "suave". Eventually, it all cans out when he meets an EBay Marketer (Catherine Keener), who, after a series of dates with him, is dying to give him the time. Problem is, she's unaware of his issue. Will the issue effect the relationship? There are absolutely some good laughs in this one. As always, the funny Steve Carrell puts on a nice show as the scared, boyish Andy. He foils out Andy Stitzer, and shows why he is the way that he is. A man afraid of change, stuck inside his own little world, and afraid to crawl out of it and explore the meanings of adult sexuality, something he has never experienced.
As for the lovely Catherine Keener, she plays the pretty Trish exceptionally well, as the innocent, yet pushy single mother. As for the rest of Carrell's supporters (Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen), they are terrific as the bozo's that they are, and make the movie even more funnier to support the already chuckle burner in Steve Carrell.
Don't keep this issue a secret. I certainly won't if you don't.
9/10.