Another crude and funny sex-crazed comedy

Rating: 8/10 (30 September 2009)

Just like "Wedding Crashers", "The 40 Year Old Virgin" is an R-rated romantic comedy that was released in 2005 and turned out to be a box office success. I wasn't too interested in either of them during their theatrical run, but I stated in my review of WC that it was highly recommended to me in early 2006. At the same time, I was told this film, starring Steve Carell, was also a must-see. So, I watched this for the first time shortly after my first viewing of the other crude 2005 comedy, and I think I found it to be the superior of the two, though neither of them was bad. Giving both films a second viewing over three years later, they both improved, as films sometimes do with more than one viewing, and now I can say more confidently that both are funny, especially this one.
Andy Stitzer is forty years old and single, living alone with a collection of toy action figures and comic books. He doesn't own a car and rides his bike instead. He works at an electronics store called Smart Tech. One day, several of his co-workers invite him to a game of poker, since they have nobody else to invite. During the game, they figure out that Andy has never had sex, as much as he tries not to let them know, and Cal, Jay, and David soon begin to help him try and lose his virginity. However, despite their efforts, they can't seem to succeed in helping their co-worker. The nerdy electronics store employee finally falls in love when a woman around his age named Trish comes into Smart Tech as a customer and talks to him. Across the street from the electronics store, she runs a business where sells people's unwanted stuff on eBay. Unfortunately, Andy's troubles aren't over yet, as Trish also has secrets.
I couldn't remember all of this film from the first viewing, and that includes the part around the beginning with Cal talking to Andy about a woman "f&%*in' a horse." I'm sure a visual presentation of that would have been revolting, but the character just talking about it made me laugh. Mooj and Haziz, two argumentative Indian employees of Smart Tech, have some really funny lines, though just about everyone in the movie does. There are so many memorably funny parts, such as David complaining to the boss, Paula, about the Michael McDonald DVD always playing in the store, Andy in a car with Nicky, a drunk driver (even when she throws up on him, as nasty as it is), Andy on the phone with Trish, unable to tell her who he really is, so she mistakes him for a telemarketer, a lot of conflict amongst various Smart Tech employees, etc. There are way too many to mention! The funniest part is perhaps the chest hair removal scene, which really cracked me up both times I saw it! The film doesn't have the greatest plot, but there are so many good gags, and some likable characters (including the lead one), that it doesn't really matter.
Yes, "The 40 Year Old Virgin" is a comedy that many people would hate. The crude sex jokes pretty much just keep coming throughout the film, it's quite immature, and as one would probably expect with an R-rated comedy like this, there's also a lot of swearing. I don't mind these things, but obviously, a lot of people do, and they may believe that anyone who likes this type of humour must have something severely wrong with them. The film is not for those who are easily offended and can't stand political incorrectness in comedy. It's obviously not meant to be taken seriously, though many viewers obviously have anyway. This probably includes many politically correct extremists, for whom I cannot feel any sympathy. However, if you don't take it too seriously and you're willing to laugh at crude, immature sex jokes for two hours, there's a good chance this R-rated 2005 romantic comedy blockbuster is for you.