The 40-Year-Old Virgin 2 Disc Edition (2007, DVD)

Because comedy is a genre most subject to individual preference and whim, reviewing funny movies is often a critic's biggest challenge. How does one qualify what he or she thinks is funny about a film without either spoiling punch lines or reducing them to psychoanalytical concepts? Some viewers dig fart jokes, and some enjoy more complex conceits; suffice it to say that seldom do all audiences think all the same things are funny, even in the same film.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin was first released in the summer of 2005, thirteen years after writer-director Judd Apatow began his Hollywood career as a producer on such television programs as The Larry Sanders Show. Subsequently, Apatow found that his own brand of humor - sometimes broad, sometimes subtle, but always deeply human - did not always register strongly with audiences: his pet projects Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared disappeared from screens less than a year after they debuted. But 40YOV, his feature directorial debut, finally found the sweet spot between sublime and intimate, and also earned him a well-deserved cache of commercial success.

With the release of Knocked Up due in a matter of weeks, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is reintroducing Apatow's previous film in a partially-new two-disc set. Entitled the "Double Your Pleasure" Edition, the film finds new life in an expansive set featuring never-before-seen extras; but at this point, do even the most diehard fans of 40-Year-Old Virgin want to double their pleasure, or would they rather just have a widescreen copy of the theatrical release, extras be damned?

The version that currently dominates all fourteen of our local HBO stations is more fluidly paced and probably better-suited to sustain both the comedic and emotional aspects of the story. But the obviously improvisational tone of Apatow's film, much less the bathroom-pause opportunities afforded by home video, makes 40-Year-Old Virgin Unrated a more comfortable, conversational, perhaps even friendly experience: rather than being purely plot-driven, the film provides more of a hangout vibe, as if you're relaxing with pals instead of watching movie stars.

Unfortunately, not even in this two-disc set can audiences choose their preferred version. Unlike Universal's DVD for The Jerk, which provides two cuts via a menu screen and seamless branching, only one cut of 40YOV is available, which means that folks will have to shell out twice to see the theatrical edition, which features no additional content or extras.

Director Judd Apatow Begins Reign Of Hilarious Comedy

I absolutely love this movie. I especially like that it's the first Judd Apatow-directed movie I bought. I have seen his 2 other R-Rated comedies, Knocked Up & Superbad and can't wait to own them eventually. I would also like to own Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. I plan on seeing three movies he produced recently, Drillbit Taylor, Forgetting Sarah Marshall & The Pineapple Express. Later on, I'd like to see You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Step Brothers, Year One, and 6 more in 2009.

This movie really made Steve Carell a major star, which led to his lead roles in hit movies such as Evan Almighty, Little Miss Sunshine, Dan In Real Life, and Get Smart.

I love all the actors in this movie, such as: Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Romany Malco, Kat Dennings, Gerry Bednob (Mooj-hilarious), Elizabeth Banks (funny crazy chick!), Leslie Mann (funny character), and Catherine Keener. I'm also a wrestling fan, so I like the fact that Diamond Dallas Page's wife, Kimberly Page, is also in the film as one of the speed daters.

I'm a huge fan of the Judd Apatow movies and the actors that are usually included in his films: Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill. I also like actors that have been and will be in his upcoming/current films: Jason Segal, James Franco, Adam Sandler, Michael Cera, and Judy Greer.

This movie is very hilarious and has a great story to it, along with a lot of unclean but funny dialect from the supporting cast. Andy Stitzer is a stereotypical nerd, who lives alone, collects action figures, enjoys video games and is a virgin at 40. His co-workers offer advice and friendship to try and help him achieve the one thing that's missing in his life, sex.

All the co-workers have very interesting and hilarious personalities along with things to say about various topics ranging from a repetitive Michael McDonald concert, turbans, and watching Ghandi baked. My two favorite co-workers in the movie are Jay & Mooj. They have some hilarious dialect with each other, back and forth as well as their own separate quotes and conversations.

The movie is very great and a must have for any fan of comedy with a twist of a lesson about intimacy. Towards the end of the movie, Andy realizes he failed at sex in the past and waited for 40 years to find the right woman, Trish Piedmont, which is something more teenagers, men and women should consider trying themselves, waiting for the right person. Not rushing into things so quickly. I think that's a lesson that's trying to be told by Judd Apatow, possibly.

Very funny, but a little more racy than expected!!

We love this movie but even we were a tad surprised when we watched it as it is very racy to put it mildly with colorful language and talk!! But that aside, it is a great story, with funny characters and a very cute ending!!
Steve Carell stars as Andy, a fella who quite frankly is a bit of a nerd. He is 40 and lives in a small apartment, alone, except for his collection of action and superhero figures. He rides a bike everywhere and works in an electronics store...where his buddies figure out he is : A 40 year old Virgin!!
So, it will not take a genius to figure out that the premise of this movie is his or more the friends, challenge the virgin status and encourage him to take the proverbial plunge.
This movie has a host of stars....besides Carell...Paul Rudd, Catherine Keener and the very funny Jayne Lynch star....Lynch plays a funny character in his boss, who is more than happy to help Andy lose his virgin status...but remains deadpan as she extends the offers!!
To cut a long story short...Andy falls for Keeners Character, while trying to skirt around the whole virgin issue to the point that is almost dissolves the relationship - of course his buddies are there to help along the way!
Yes, it is rude, crass and has more than its fair share of potty humor...but there again what do you expect from a film called "The 40 year old virgin"...I love this..if you want to laugh loud, no matter how silly or juvenile the jokes are....then you have a funny plot with great actors and an all around hysterical movie!

The 40 Year Old Virgin

In my opinion, this unique movie is a hit- especially if you like the acting style of Steve Carrell (sarcastic and stupidly funny) AND can get around the fact that the storyline contains MANY references to and graphic descriptions of sex that are sometimes quite crude. If you can't see the humor in this sort of thing- or at least get past it-- you definitely will NOT like this movie.

Andy (Carrell) is a socially awkward 40 year old who has never "done the deed." He makes the horrible mistake of revealing his "secret" to his buddies from work during a poker game and his life is forever changed... His buddies vow to help him end his virginity and begin giving him a bunch of LOUSY advice about women, which of course he follows. They also have a lot of fun at Andy's expense, poking fun of his "situation." Meanwhile, Andy meets a woman he really likes. They start dating, but he is afraid to tell her he is a virgin and is actually AFRAID to have sex with her. Not knowing he is a virgin, she totally can't understand his apparent lack of sexual interest.

One thing I really found refreshing about this entire sex-obsessed storyline is that although Andy is ostracized for his virginity throughout the movie, the point that staying a virgin was HIS CHOICE and that he was ultimately saving himself for the right person- even at age 40- is driven home in the end. (Although I have to say that point almost appears to have been thrown in as an afterthought, as it only comes up at the very END of the movie.)

40-Year-Old Virgin best comedy of 2005

While being laugh-out-loud funny and irreverent, "40-Year-Old Virgin" manages to impart a lot of heart and compassion. Steve Carell, brilliant in "The Office," plays Andy, a nerdy stock guy at an electronics store who's never been laid. His coworkers decide to remedy the problem by giving him all kinds of horrible advice on how to score with the ladies. Andy finally meets Trish (Catherine Keener), and realizes that he doesn't just want sex; he wants a relationship. My favorite parts are the chest waxing scene and the Bollywood musical number at the end.