This culture is seriously screwed up!

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2005)

Yes, SCREWED up. In every nuance of meaning. The now cliché "thumbs up does not necessarily mean OK" slogan comes to mind.
I almost didn't see this one as I don't typically like raunchy comedies. Forrest Gump says that life is like a box of chocolates...and so on. Well, the other day I saw xXx: State of the Union--big flashy action flick, right?! If you can liken that one to a steaming fresh horse turd carefully hand-painted to look like a Russian nesting doll, then 40 Year Old Virgin is a Rembrandt dipped in sewage. For one thing, the fact that it probably does *not* hold the record for F-bombs in a picture is a sad commentary on movie-making in general.
But I'd rather see a good movie with a crude veneer than some of the dreck that Hollywood vomits up each year. Passion of the Christ (Gibson's "Holywood" offering) wasn't a "pretty" movie but I think it did OK :-] Not saying that 40-YOV should be compared to this masterpiece but it has a lot going for it. Yeah, Andy's a big goober but I don't recall that this is a capital offense.
Deciding not to have sex is admirable but what amazed me was that he actually got married before the "big bang". A very classy touch; score one point for marriage!! I'm not much of a fan of Catherine Keener, especially in the looks department. But you can tell that Andy genuinely likes her character and doesn't want to just do her out of pressure or obligation. It was so cool to see these people have a wedding first and *then* see how much more Andy is able to value the "celebration"; he turned out to be a real pro in the sack after all! I was 26 and 4 days old (but who was counting?) when I had my first and only woman...on my wedding day, thank you. Now I'm almost 40, and clearly not a virgin (4 kids) but I remember how some bozos would bother me about my previous "condition", as if it were a disease.
Like Wedding Crashers, this movie finds itself respecting people's choices to not take sex so nonchalantly. The male sluts eventually figure out that doing everybody becomes shallow and boring and long for meaning relationships. But hey, this is a comedy...is it funny? Yes, and not nearly as brainless as you might think, considering the material. The profanity doesn't add much, as it usually doesn't, except when Andy gets "waxed". I understand that Steve Carell really allowed them to rip out chest hair so that he would get the right reaction on film. It works painfully well. Also, showing the difficulty of trying to pee with "morning wood"; it's so dang true.
You're not a prude if you think this one's rude and crude, dude! But if you can, look past the acne and you might find a supermodel...
Bottom's....and everything else....up!
"...rather be laid on than laid off"