Kelly Davies
Staff Writer
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is the kind of movie where you expect to take the humor with a grain of salt. I expected potty-mouthed jokes, juvenile story lines and gratuitous sex. What I got was intelligent humor, adult themes and not much explicit sexuality at all. That’s the point of the charming “Virgin,” headed by first-time director Judd Apatow, who approaches the film with the same awkward sweetness of an eighth grade dance — at least an eighth grade dance with nudity, frank sexual discussion and chest waxing.
The film tells the story of Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell), a geeky self-conscious technology salesman who just does not have the confident touch necessary to go about life. In fact, Andy’s life is completely devoid of physical contact. To compensate for what is missing, Andy fills his life with action figures and spends his nights singing karaoke and watching re-runs with his elderly neighbors.
“You’ve got more action figures than an Asian kid!” quips one friend. If that comment is offensive then stay away. The film is filled with that kind of humor.
But Andy is a virgin not because of his geeky personality; the film makes it clear it is because of the enormous social pressure he feels to both fit in and be himself. The film never puts forth the impression that there is anything wrong with being a virgin. As Andy puts it, “It just never happened.”
So becomes the stuff of workplace legend as Andy’s co-workers set out to deflower him. Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen are hilarious playing Andy’s bawdy friends who set him up for a series of romantic mishaps that include an awkward date involving a DUI and a somewhat successful flirtation with a giddy salesgirl (Elizabeth Banks). He takes a breath and a suave personality emerges in the scene. Hilarity ensues.
Girl: “We have some do-it-yourself, books.”
Andy: “Do you…like to do it yourself?”
The girl erupts in laughter, but it’s obvious that Andy does not feel comfortable with this. While his friends do encourage him to step out of his shell, Andy’s attitude shows that stepping out of the comfort zone is only the first step. Being oneself must come next.
Andy’s friends encourage him to meet the breezy Trish (Catherine Keener), a mother of three and grandmother of one. Or, as she puts it, “My kid had a kid.” In her, Andy finds the confidence to grow up a little. She’s just about as real as it gets, completely unaffected by Andy’s eccentricities. And why shouldn’t she be? He’s a normal guy, filled with the same kinds of quirks everyone has.
There is something in Andy that almost everyone can all relate to — the awkwardness of the first romantic experience, the struggle to be comfortable in your own skin.
And the movie is a comedy. It’s a rare gem that examines some pretty heavy social issues, and by the end of the film, we’re all rooting for Andy.
But the film takes a while to reach that climax (pun intended). It resorts to a few unnecessary clichés, but it’s forgivable. And, for what it’s worth, the ending is quite surprising.
Ultimately, most of the characters realize that the only things they ever wanted are simple — a meaningful relationship and a chance to be loved. Go ahead and brave the long lines at the theater. It’s worth the wait.
08-29-2005
