The new American film, ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’, covers old territory, the quest for a man, in this case, Andy Stitzer, to lose his virginity. There is a different slant, Andy happens to be an ancient 40 years old!
The narrative follows a pretty standard, linear line…Try this on for size…Andy’s workmates, he works at an electronics shop, get it out of him that he is a virgin during a heated poker game…their resolution is to get him laid as soon as possible…Andy gets a ribbing at work….the female boss gets wind of his problem, and makes an offhand play for him.
What lifts this film from its B Grade feel is some clever situations, and inspired comic moments. There’s a classic comic sequence where Andy, in his pursuit to attract the opposite sex, decides to go in for some body waxing. The body waxing scene wasn’t simulated and actually took place, and was extremely funny.
‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ was directed by Judd Apatow, written by Judd Apatow and Steve Carell, and starred Steve Carell, Catherine Keener as his love interest, Trish, and his mates, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen.
(C) David Kary
