Fall in Love With a 40-Year-Old Virgin

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Having sex for the first time probably did not go down in your ‘magical experience handled with surprising aplomb’ hall of fame. There are the awkward all-thumbs moments when trying to unsnap bras; the nervousness of wondering exactly what the hell you might be doing and if you are, in fact, doing it to the thrilling effect you have seen achieved in thousands of movies and millions of music videos. But, self-consciousness be damned, we usually bash on regardless, and minutes later, sweating, smiling and mildly embarrassed, we have broken the seal on a lifetime of romance and sexual misadventure.

But what if the experience was too daunting? What if you made it into your late twenties never having conquered your fears? What if, at the age of forty, your apartment was full of comic collectibles and you felt more comfortable with anonymous online gaming than with the intimacy of a real-life lover? Well, in the case of the wonderfully charming Andy (Steve Carrell), you just assume the ship of love has sailed quietly into that good night and you go about your day-to-day, hoping never to be thumbed as the 40-year-old virgin you are.

But, just like having three nipples or an eyeball planted in your forehead, trying to hide one’s virginity at that late age is almost impossible, especially if you happen to share sales-floor-space with Andy’s co-workers: David (Paul Rudd), Jay (Romany Malco) and Cal (Seth Rogen). After begrudgingly inviting Andy to a poker game, the fellas soon realize, after Andy hilariously tries to describe his freakiest sexual experience, that the reticent man they assumed was a serial killer was in fact something much more disturbing – a 40-year-old virgin! The three amigos decide to make it their mission to get their lost soul of a newfound friend laid. Curiously the efforts seem more of an attempt to drag this doe-eyed man into their world of resentment of the fairer sex as opposed to introducing him to the carnal pleasures of the human animal and the sublime wonders of an intimate and honest relationship.

And not surprisingly, Andy digs in his heels with fastidious resolve. Seriously, after forty years one might assume it would take a little more than good-natured ribbing from the boys to get a man to change his entire life, even if Michael McDonald is on 50 plasma screens singing in your ear all day about the virtues of love. But Andy’s hesitation comes not so much from his abhorrence of sex but from the methods of his good-intentioned posse of lotharios. This is what makes the The 40-Year-Old Virgin different from other fraternity-style mid-brow comedies of its supposed ilk. This movie has a heart and it resides in the sweetness, innocence and virtue of its main character. As Andy says, “I respect women.” What? Respect women? Who the?! I guess Andy long ago lost his WWVVCD? (What Would Vince Vaughn’s Character Do) bracelet.

But do not get us wrong; this movie is not all sap and romance. The requisite amount of stock penis and homophobia jokes (“I know you’re gay because you listen to Coldplay.”) are thrown in to keep the movie entertaining but not quite banal. The entire premise of an endearing but socially awkward virgin being goaded by his insecure horny pals and the travails of said man forming a relationship of any substance is absolutely ripe with comedy and this movie polishes those gems in moments of absolute hilarity. (I mean, a masturbation scene featuring a Lionel Richie tune? It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?) And although the movie eventually is about the anxiety that comes with finding the confidence in ourselves to be worthy of both receiving and giving love (and sex) to another, it does not take itself too seriously. In his attempt to woo the would-be love of his life, Trish, played with refreshing honesty and vulnerability by Catherine Keener, in a nice departure from her usual jaded indie character roles, Andy makes you empathize with his humanity, if not his condition, because face it, how many 40-year-old virgins do you actually know?

We recommend this movie. It’s a great date movie. Or so we imagined, as we sat alone sheepishly eating our cherry pie à la mode (ah, the genius of the Alamo Drafthouse South), surrounded by giggling couples holding hands and sharing popcorn. The bastards!

Check out video of a hilarious interview with stars Paull Rudd and Steve Carrell here.

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By matthewodam in Arts & Entertainment on August 23, 2005 11:40 AM 0 Comments

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sean

When I saw michael mcdonald on all the TVs, the first thing I thought was "so that's what happened to the guy who played the race car driver in Six Pack. he sure got fat."

odam

re: "Hair" comment...hilarious.

re: Daily Show character. the DS has no production input or anything like that invested, so i think it is just steve branching out.

also, where the hell is Colbert Report?

furthermore: i am not sure anyone else in the theater besides me really was in on the micghale mcdonald joke, i think they were all like, "what the hell is that guy who roasts fried chicken doing on those tv's"

sean

I thought of his Produce Pete character from the Daily Show as soon as he started talking about egg salad sandwiches.

Dear Daily Show: don't get fooled into making a bunch of bad movies based on skit characters from your show like SNL does. 40 Year Old Virgin was okay, but watch it- you're treading on thin ice.

That said, I enjoyed the movie, but I did feel as though it ended too quickly. Maybe that's part of the joke.

The musical bit at the end didn't seem gimmicky to me at all- partially because the way it started out was so unexpected and almost disturbing, but mostly because that is my favorite song from Hair.

[now is when you respond to that last sentece with "wanna know how I know you're gay?"]

Bre

Hope you have a big trunk. 'Cuz I'm puttin' my bike in it.

odam

befor ei saw the film i actually read a review saying they thought the music montage ruined all the goodwill built throughout the movie and that it was gimmicky and too "anchorman"ish. i was kind of ambivalent about the whole thing, but i heard many people upon leaving talk about how much they loved it. so, methinks that reviewer was a little too uptight. anywho...