a comedy with a heart

Rating: 9/10 (12 February 2006)

SPOILERS THROUGH:
To bad there's no Oscar for best comedy of the year. I have heard critical raves about 40 year old Virgin and the movie didn't disappoint. Not only is it hilarious, but there's a sweetness to the characters and the story which is unusual for a comedy of this type. Yet it somehow also avoids the "cheesy factor."
I personally think Steve Carroll is one of the funniest actors I've ever seen and he's got genuine acting talent as well so he makes this movie work. The supporting cast are great, particularly Catherine Keener who takes on a tough role as the love interest but doesn't fall into the trap of being just the object of desire of the lead actor. Keener plays an individual rather then a cliché and she is a breath of fresh air. All the performers in this movie are excellent in playing characters that have individual personalities rather then being just props for the storyline. Everyone is memorable.
The humor in this movie is obnoxious, crude and rather disgusting at times and is not at all the type of humor that I myself usually like but for some reason it works here. In fact everything works here. The thing that sets 40 year old virgin apart is that it's both constantly comedic and touching without being schmaltzy. It's a comedy with a heart and the movie keeps you laughing but also has a depth that is unusual for a comedy of this nature. At any rate, the movie worked for me and I really enjoyed it.
The end I must mention as well as it was really well done and unique. The 40 year old Virgin is a great movie to see when you just want to laugh and have a good time watching a constantly funny, original movie that also reaches out and touches in a way one might not expect. Comedies if they are really well done deserve nine's and ten's sometimes and my rating of this movie is 9 out of 10.