Prudes, ninnies, foreigners and the excessively sensitive need not apply!

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2007)

I have a theory about this type of comedy.
Unless you are an American with some semblance of a normal middle class upbringing, you will neither "get" nor appreciate the humor of films like The 40 Year Old Virgin. I identified with Steve Carrell's character, in that I, too, have had my share of bizarre sexual encounters--had there been a "perfect storm" of these types of experiences it may have turned me off of sex just like it did poor Andy.
Everyone who has any type of normal working life has ran across these co-workers, the smooth playa, the stoner, the lonesome loser, and the guy who cracked me up the most, the foul mouthed little foreign dude. My little foreign dude was Thai waiter named Sammy, while Andy's happened to be a little Indian guy. The part where he is trying to be all sensitive towards Andy and starts spouting about "butt love" and the "rusty trombone" and the "dirty sanchez" had me in tears.
Andy, who could have been just another stereotypical dweeb is played with surprising depth by Steve Carrell; he's a fairly normal guy, he just never got laid, and like a bad habit its stuck with him his entire life.
The supporting cast, Andy's coworkers, his boss and the various "hoodrat" women he interacts with hit at perfect pitch. The secondary roles like Paula his boss, and the drunken girl who takes him on an automobile ride from hell are priceless. Her line about wanting some "Frrrench toast" is a classic.
Although Virgin winds down at the end, the total strength of the movie outweighs the anticlimax. If you enjoyed Wedding Crashers and There's Something About Mary you will get a big kick out of 40 Year Old Virgin.