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Ok, time to try this new 'Pooter out with a review once and for all...
Andy is a naive and quiet man. His job is ok and gets him by but he doesn't have a lot to do with his collegues. His private life is also quiet until his work mates ask him to play poker with them after work hours.
During the game, they realise an embarassing truth for Andy... he's a 40 year old virgin.
His new found buddies make it their goal to help Andy past his predicament, and just in time too... there's a lady just moved into a shop over the road that he likes and the group decide to get Andy sorted out in time for him to woo said lady.
Another comedy engine for the likes of Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch and a cameo from Jonah Hill sees a relatively gross-out comedy at the start turn into the usual mawkish rom-com with a hint of slapstick and the usual zany comedy from Carell.
The comedy works brilliantly though. It goes from adult humour full of swearing and clever one-liners, to zany, to gross-out and to the usual rom-com viewer friendly real life humour from scene toscene without even a heartbeat and does it really very succesfully.
There are a number of scenes throughout too though that seem more like sketches rather than any real part of the story, but it does add a new flavour to the humour on show though. Most of the sketches also seem ad libbed too which makes them funnier.
The movie also contains hints of slapstick, mainly through Carell and his trademark face-pulling and throwing his body around around in an amusing fashion.
The body waxing scene is a definite highlight though.
The screenplay is pretty linear though. It's very recognisable for anyone who has seen any comedy from the past 15 years with the lead up, tragedy, then overcoming the odds in love style story...
... but the comedic talent on show and the extremely loveable, simply written characters lifts the lacking plot and story to new heights.
Which brings me to the acting on show.
Steve Carell (even though he should be, being the title character and all) is absolutely on top form. He's funny, realistic and still manages to throw in his regular far-out zany humour into the mix. His overall naivety in the character makes him one of the funniest comedy characters I've seen for a while.
Seth Rogen also makes an impression as Andy's collegue/buddy Cal. Rogen as ever is all about one-liners and swearing when it's not even called for.
Paul Rudd and Romany Malco as the other two buddies are also funny, but they're not as memorable as Carell and Rogen really.
Catherine Keener is a nice show as Andy's girl though. Her more serious take on the various events are a breath of fresh air and she carries the humour brilliantly.
Back up comes from Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Shelley Malil, Gerry Bednob and Kat Dennings.
Review #161: The 40 Year Old Virgin
Andy is a naive and quiet man. His job is ok and gets him by but he doesn't have a lot to do with his collegues. His private life is also quiet until his work mates ask him to play poker with them after work hours.
During the game, they realise an embarassing truth for Andy... he's a 40 year old virgin.
His new found buddies make it their goal to help Andy past his predicament, and just in time too... there's a lady just moved into a shop over the road that he likes and the group decide to get Andy sorted out in time for him to woo said lady.
Another comedy engine for the likes of Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch and a cameo from Jonah Hill sees a relatively gross-out comedy at the start turn into the usual mawkish rom-com with a hint of slapstick and the usual zany comedy from Carell.
The comedy works brilliantly though. It goes from adult humour full of swearing and clever one-liners, to zany, to gross-out and to the usual rom-com viewer friendly real life humour from scene toscene without even a heartbeat and does it really very succesfully.
There are a number of scenes throughout too though that seem more like sketches rather than any real part of the story, but it does add a new flavour to the humour on show though. Most of the sketches also seem ad libbed too which makes them funnier.
The movie also contains hints of slapstick, mainly through Carell and his trademark face-pulling and throwing his body around around in an amusing fashion.
The body waxing scene is a definite highlight though.
The screenplay is pretty linear though. It's very recognisable for anyone who has seen any comedy from the past 15 years with the lead up, tragedy, then overcoming the odds in love style story...
... but the comedic talent on show and the extremely loveable, simply written characters lifts the lacking plot and story to new heights.
Which brings me to the acting on show.
Steve Carell (even though he should be, being the title character and all) is absolutely on top form. He's funny, realistic and still manages to throw in his regular far-out zany humour into the mix. His overall naivety in the character makes him one of the funniest comedy characters I've seen for a while.
Seth Rogen also makes an impression as Andy's collegue/buddy Cal. Rogen as ever is all about one-liners and swearing when it's not even called for.
Paul Rudd and Romany Malco as the other two buddies are also funny, but they're not as memorable as Carell and Rogen really.
Catherine Keener is a nice show as Andy's girl though. Her more serious take on the various events are a breath of fresh air and she carries the humour brilliantly.
Back up comes from Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Shelley Malil, Gerry Bednob and Kat Dennings.
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All in all, not a fantastic comedy but still a funny and engaging adult rom-com filled with funny characters and some really simply written plots and subplots.
Some of the humour will appeal to teenagers more than full grown adults at times though but still, fans of Carell's and Rogen's usual zany swearing and shouting will enjoy it.
Sadly though it gets a bit cheesy and sickly toward the end.
My rating: 81%
All in all, not a fantastic comedy but still a funny and engaging adult rom-com filled with funny characters and some really simply written plots and subplots.
Some of the humour will appeal to teenagers more than full grown adults at times though but still, fans of Carell's and Rogen's usual zany swearing and shouting will enjoy it.
Sadly though it gets a bit cheesy and sickly toward the end.
My rating: 81%
