Goaded by his buddies, a nerdy guy who’s never “done the deed” only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.
As a child in Dublin throughout the 1970s and 1980s, I found myself drawn to American movies early on. By my teenage years in the mid-1980s, my favorite genre had become comedies set in high schools and colleges. Classics like “Porky’s,” “Weird Science,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Goonies,” and “Up the Creek” were go-to choices, and they still make me laugh when I recall them. Whether it’s my sense of humor that’s changed or the nature of American comedy itself, I tend to think the genre has simply moved in a different direction.
Although Judd Apatow is known for several well-received comedies, his films never struck me as hilarious in the way those earlier movies did. The last time I remember honestly laughing hard at an American comedy was with “Happy Gilmore.” It seems more recent comedies just don’t have the same impact. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is funny in places, but it doesn’t reach the level of gut-busting comedy. That’s not a problem, though—sometimes movies are meant to be uplifting and pleasant rather than nonstop laugh-fests. Watching “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” again, after initially being unimpressed, helped me see it differently. I realized that Judd Apatow, who both directed and co-wrote the film, along with Steve Carell, who starred and also co-wrote, weren’t aiming for a pure comedy. Instead, the film is more of a romantic story sprinkled with humor. My disappointment the first time around was probably due to expecting something more akin to a traditional comedy, but now I can appreciate its warmth and sincerity as a romantic comedy.
The story revolves around Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell), a shy forty-year-old working as a stock supervisor at Smart Tech, an electronics retailer. When his coworkers—David (Paul Rudd), Jay (Romany Malco), and Cal (Seth Rogen)—learn that Andy is still a virgin, they make it their mission to help him change that. The movie follows Andy as his friends push him to break out of his shell, forcing him to face his anxieties and assumptions. Things get interesting when he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), who runs an eBay shop, and he quickly finds himself falling for her. Andy soon decides he wants his first sexual experience to be with her, but as he attracts the attention of other women, eager to help free him from his virginity, his situation gets even more complicated.
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” marked Judd Apatow’s big-screen directorial debut, and what sets it apart isn’t just the originality of the plot, but also the strong cast he assembled. Many of the actors were just launching their careers, and Apatow’s direction helped boost both his own and their reputations. Steve Carell’s portrayal of Andy, stumbling from one awkward moment to the next, is especially entertaining. What really stands out, though, is Andy’s personal evolution—he learns how to interact with women and express himself. The film becomes less about his quest to lose his virginity and more about his journey toward self-understanding and the pursuit of a meaningful relationship. Andy’s hope that his first time with Trish will be something special is a touching detail, particularly at a time when such sentiments aren’t always celebrated.
In the end, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is a charming, often genuinely funny movie. Beneath its seemingly risqué premise, it tells a touching story about two people hoping to find authentic love and share real experiences together.
Now available on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, and Digital,
and returning to theaters for one week, beginning August 22nd through August 28th
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