Carell is THE comedian for the 21st Century

Rating: 9/10 (28 August 2005)

I have been very generous with my rating for this film, as I believe it is one of the few films I have seen recently which actually deserve it.
Having first noticed Steve Carell in Bruce Almighty, I had him pegged as a 'one to watch' and have been watching him closely ever since. That coupled with a film stealing performance in the hilarious Anchorman, has cemented my faith in Carell and I am sure now he will become on of the true great cinematic comedians on par with the likes of Laurel, Chaplin and Keaton. Believe me I cannot praise this guy too highly.
Carell plays Andy a 40 year old lonely guy with few nerdy hobbies who lives a routine life. He works in an electronics store, cycles to work and watches 'Survivor' with his elderly neighbours. He is an all around nice guy, which is conceived by many around him as some sort of abject weirdness which accounts for the fact that he lives alone and appears to have very few friends.
As the title suggests, Andy is also a virgin. A few embarrassments and traumatic experiences in his youth, (shown here is some hilarious flashbacks) convinced him to give the whole thing up as a bad job, and now he avoids women like the plague.
This is a deep and well kept secret and it is only when three co-workers reluctantly invite the 'odd' guy for a poker night, does the truth become known. At first there are the obvious ridicule and jokes, but it soon becomes a mission for those around him, to offer their advice and experience in order to get Andy 'laid' as soon as possible.
This is pure comedy through and through as Andy is put in some real cringe worthy embarrassing situations as he once again dabbles his toe in sexual waters. It is almost like a teen puberty comedy without the teens.
However saying that, this is by no means, an American Pie style sex fest executed in an immature adolescent way. Sure we have 'Knob' gags and jokes relating to the female genitalia, we have nudity and we have some gross out smut at times, yet with all, this film handles what is for some a very real and sensitive issue in a mature and sensitive way which never once interferes with the comedy on screen.
For instance Andy could quite easily become a figure of ridicule, yet this film is executed in such a way, that Andy is never anything less than our hero. We like him and wish him to succeed, and although his new found friends try to re-condition him for the female market, we like him just as he is, indeed it is Andy's true gentlemanly qualities and sense of decency which brings the film to an hilarious and successful conclusion. The real and true Andy finding real and true love.
There are so many ingredients in here, and it is in my opinion one of the funniest film of the year, if not THE funniest.
Look out for the final scene which had my girlfriend and I almost busting our guts in laughter. It was such an unexpected twist that I do not wish to spoil it here. In fact I think it was because it was so surprising that it was so damn funny.
I hope we can see more of Steve Carell in lead roles such as this.
Brilliant.