Caffeinated Clint
Much like finally getting into that wildly popular nightclub – having stood outside of it for so long, ever so excited about what lied beyond the velvet rope – but slightly disappointed when you finally get inside, “The 40-year-old Virgin” is a film best viewed from afar.
Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann
Much like finally getting into that wildly popular nightclub – having stood outside of it for so long, ever so excited about what lied beyond the velvet rope – but slightly disappointed when you finally get inside, “The 40-year-old Virgin” is a film best viewed from afar.
It’s funny, sure, and it will entertain (unless of course you are a middle-aged man with cherry still in-tact), but much like eating an entire box of cookies, when you should have only tasted the one, it’s a movie best suited to a television show skit – the briefer, the better.
Still, there are at least five or six good moments in here – and they’re close to undie-wetters. Already, it’s better than Will Ferrell’s most recent crop of crap.
Rising comic superstar Steve Carell (“Anchorman”, “Bruce Almighty”, the upcoming “Get Smart”) plays the title character – an unworldly, rather geekish man that becomes even more of a joke to his oversexed and boisterous co-workers – played by Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen – when they discover the closest he’s got to a ‘bust’ is watching the last five minutes of an “NYPD Blue” episode.
The search is then on to get a woman to make Andy (Carell) a man, and boy, do the ladies – well, most of them are ladies, one has a rather suspicious Adams apple – come out of the woodwork. Sadly, the couple that do take a shine to the cordial comic-book geek are as together as a half-finished go-kart.
Ultimately, Andy crosses paths with Trish (Catherine Keener), who runs the shop across the road from his. They click, but he, of course, is a little hesitant to go horizontal jogging with her, and that naturally, gives her mixed signals.
There are some stellar moments in the film, especially early on, when Andy’s big secret is newly discovered, but unfortunately, there’s not enough to sustain a 115-minute movie. Still, it never gets dull – and compared to some of the other comedy clunkers of the last twelve months that is saying something. After all, some are still waking from “Kicking and Screaming”, whilst others are yet to be informed that they can open their eyes – “Meet the Fockers” is finished.
Steve Carell does have something – I have to admit. He’s a very likeable screen presence, and is a good fit for the role here. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to know his character that well though, and at times it makes his performance come off as a little unsure – is he a dork with only a peanut-for-a-brain? Or is he really a naïve, sweet charmer? He doesn’t even seem to know.
Still, this is a surprisingly good time, and if only the editor had taken to the scissors to a couple of those long-drawn out scenes in the chunky middle – we might have had an even better film.
DVD Extras(pull up a seat, there’s plenty of them!) include an extra 17 minutes of footage woven back into the flick; a personal video diary of the director; footage of the poker game scene being rehearsed; a round table featurette (funny stuff); a making-of (your usual EPK style-thingie); some raw footage (basically what happened after the scenes were shot – -and the cameras were still on!); David (Paul Rudd) & Cal (Seth Rogen) do their infamous ‘You Know How I Know You’re Gay’ routine, with exclusive commentary by director Judd Apatow and actor and co-producer Seth Rogen; additional footage of Andy’s first fumbling foray into the world of speed dating; Seth Rogen’s meeting with Porn Star Stormy Daniels; Auditions (meh); footage of Steve Carell getting his chest waxed for the first time (geez that would’ve hurt!); a sex education film from the 50s (kinda funny… for a couple of seconds); gag reel (love these things) and the trailer for Judd Apatow’s new film, “Knocked Up”.
All in all, the extras make the DVD.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
