Generous, funny film

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2006)

This is one of the funnier films to come out of Hollywood since perhaps Being John Malkovich. Steve Carell as Andy Stitzer plays a fairly normal but shy and reticent about getting involved with women after being rejected as a youngster. Still, he is not, as I mentioned, particularly unusual unless you think that riding a bicycle in Los Angeles and collecting toys is particularly unusual. However he gets along well with other people and has perhaps even a plausible apartment in Hollywood given how he pays nothing on a car. He has a decent job but seems quite happy in his life. This is one difference between this and other films about someone trying to connect with someone, ore even make sexual conquests (American Pie, Porky's etc.). He doesn't seem like he ___needs___ this contact, but after a couple of hilarious missteps (a terrifying ride with a drunk and extremely needy woman (Leslie Mann) as well as a flirtation with a wild bookstore clerk (Elizabeth Banks)) he finally connects with a woman who has a business across the road from the entertainment superstore where he works, the Best Buy-Smart Tech (the immensely talented Catherine Keener). The film plot in itself is quite pedestrian, but as so often is the case, the devil is in the details, and the film is plotted out quite carefully and with many colorful supporting characters. Foul-mouthed Mooj (Gerry Bednob), thoughtful Jay (Romany Malco), smooth and just maybe obsessed David (Paul Rudd), stoner Cal (Seth Rogen), and sexually frustrated store manager (Jane Lynch) are not cruel to Andy when his secret is discovered. However, his unease is certainly lampooned and he is not immune from the gentle barbs and good- natured ribbing of his co-workers. However, it is always just that-good-natured. In the tradition of American Pie and Animal House, debauchery without malice makes this film lovable and also very funny. The writing is very funny and there are sequences such as Jay's face off with another black man, David and Cal's claims as to why the other is gay, and Andy taking Cal's advice on simply asking women questions. There are some very funny scenes in the film and it is very, very, very funny.