A very very big surprise!!

Rating: 8/10 (27 August 2005)

I have done other reviews of certain films that feature what I have been known to call the Ferrell Comedy Troup. Basically the entire cast of Anchorman. They show up in each other's movies (Wedding Crashers, Bewitched, every Ben Stiller movie) and the lot of them just tend to make movies I can't stand. Steve Carell was one of the more talented members of the Anchorman team although that is saying little to nothing. So I had NO expectations of this film. I assumed it would be of the same caliber featuring many of the same actors from the troupe (after all I already knew Paul Rudd was in it.) I assumed it would be gross out comedy, over the top stupid SNL type skit comedy and I was totally shocked and amazed by what I saw.
The 40 Year Old Virgin will likely be a classic sex comedy in the same vein as Porky's or Animal House or Revenge Of The Nerds. Yes the film is all about getting laid, yes some of the jokes are pretty tasteless for those that are weak in the politically incorrect department. Still the film deals with the sex topic and being a virgin in a much more compassionate, funny, laugh out loud kind of way. Whereas I full expected Carell's character (the virgin) to be the butt of all jokes, instead he repeatedly comes out on top, above all the other supposedly "macho" guys and he is the nice guy who finishes first. A lot of the comedy rather than being the gross out type (which there was some of) was more about the actual script, some great dialog and funny moments. One of the real stars of the film was Paul Rudd who plays one of Carell's best friends David. His character was so incredibly hilarious. I had no idea Rudd had this kind of physical comedy in him. His expressions and dialog were just hysterical. The four main characters played by Carell, Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen have great chemistry, far better and far more real than the annoying Anchormen cast (which three of those four guys were in.) They all had unique characters and had some unique and funny moments with Carell as they try to "teach" him to be a lover.
Romantic leading lady to Carell's character was Catherine Keener who I thought was okay. She did the job adequately and had decent chemistry with Carell, I just thought she wasn't the best addition to the cast. Director Judd Apatow who had done mostly TV work obviously knows comedy. He used the right amount of physical comedy, gross out comedy and the sudden rage of politically incorrect stereotypical racial comedy that offends some people and amuses others. Honestly I think I enjoyed this film more than Wedding Crashers and definitely found it funnier. The cast worked well together and more importantly the script is a complete surprise and not brain dead whatsoever which is a complete shock. To discover right up until the very end that this guy who is a virgin is a good thing and makes him a hero of the film is such a refreshing twist to what I imagined it would be like. Key scenes is Carell's chest waxing (which you think would be a drag after seeing it so much on the commercials...it's NOT, it's hilarious), all of Paul Rudd's scenes, Carell's trying the condoms, and all the physical comedy throughout. This is a real keeper and adults will love it's humor and I really think it's destined to become a sex classic. 8.5/10