The 40 Year-Old Virgin --- deserves to be put on a pedestal

© Universal

Title:
The 40 Year-Old Virgin (A-)
PH Release Date:
September 2005
Actors:
Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann
Director:
Judd Apatow
Screenplay:
Judd Apatow & Steve Carell
Editor / Music:
Brent White / Lyle Workman
Design / Photography:
Jackson de Govia / Jack N. Green
Producer:
Steve Carell et al.
Studio:
Universal Pictures


© Universal

“I'm very discreet... but I will haunt your dreams”

With the high price of cinema tickets today, it’s hard to decide on what movie deserves are violet buck. That is why I am here. But even I get a little confuse sometimes especially since the advent of 4-in-1 DVDs. If you really think about it, why spend a hundred bucks for a single entry to one movie when you can buy the multimovie DVDs in Quiapo and watch more than one movie as many times as you want, with as many people as you like at your own time? It is in this light that I have decided on this dogma: Thou shall watch movies in cinema only if it’s 3d filled, OPM and/or for free.

However, despite this creed, when I heard about this film, I knew that I got to see it straight from the movie house. And I don’t have a single contrition about that decision. I saw this flick more than a month ago, and watched it again yesterday (for free, thanx to Ate Kors). And somehow I was surprised to find the movie just as great.


© Universal

A couple of comedies regarding virginity have emerged for the past few years but none of them has ever tackled it with an adult man as the center of the story. Most of the time it’s about kids trying to get lucky after the prom with a happy ending completely bullocks for people of their age. Not that I loved the ending of this movie, but the way this flick was handled in its entirety exudes warmth that separates it from its wacko-for-bucko predecessors.

The movie revolves around the life of Andy Stitzer. A man who spends most, actually all of his out-of-work time at home together with his kick-ass videogames, limited edition toys and trombone. He’s a decade away to experience mid-life crisis but the one thing a man, according to the American standards should have experienced is something he has never successfully done before. With his natural shyness and life more predictable than Joan Rivers’ plastic surgery schedule, it seems that Andy may have to skip that whole aspect of life. Not until his co-workers: Cal, David and Jay came in, that Andy might finally get the chance to meet Pussyliah.


© Universal

Director Judd Apatow is in a way almost a veteran in the field of comedy but has never directed a full-length movie before until this one. In a lot of ways it is quite obvious, but the great thing about comedy movies is that when you’re able to make your audience laugh so hard they tend to miss the mistakes that you’ve made. The shots are okay, however, he is not very detailed that if you’re a keen moviegoer, it’ll be impossible to miss the bloopers. For example, when the drank girl puked shrimp sandwich on Andy’s face there was only a very minimal amount that can be found on the left side of his mouth, but the next scene showed Andy’s face covered with puke; a minuscule mistake, nonetheless a mistake.

Judd may be novice in directing, but he is certainly not a neophyte in writing. Together with Steve, they were able to make Andy’s character very interesting and consistent at the same time. They were also able to intertwine physical comedy with pure talk, which made it more fun to watch. The story despite its fairy tale ending still managed to standout because it’s something that has never been done before. They also managed to include lines about life that given enought time to ponder on makes utter sense.


© Universal

The editing of the movie needs some work. The music they used was very funny, apt to the desired reaction from the audience and mood at the moment. The design was pretty simple and the cinematography was nothing special as well. But nevertheless, they all blend perfectly well with the movie, and that for me matters the most.

Steve Carell nailed this part as if it’s his first-time: with full energy and intense determination. He was very consistent and right on the money all throughout. He surely deserves more than Hollywood gives him credit for. And after this flick, I’m pretty sure he’ll get what’s right for him. Catherine Keener played her part very naturally. Paul Rudd is one those few could-have-been leading man but successfully managed to do what he do best—comedy. He’s your average American, and he played this role as if he’s been that person his entire life. Jane Lynch was another standout in this flick, a simple but landmark performance. The rest of the cast was great.


© Universal

Like I’ve mentioned in the beginning, very few comedy/rom-com/non-CGI flick deserves to be seen onscreen. Now that times has never been more difficult, it is imperative that we should be practical in dealing with our hobbies such as watching movies. But it is more imperative to see a movie that will not only bring tremendous joy to you, but will also make you think about the complications that surround relationships and adult life in general. So go watch this flick now, and I’ll stop putting this pussy on a pedestal.

Grading Sheet:
Story – 17%
Screenplay – 18%
Direction / Execution – 17%
Acting – 18%
Technical Aspect – 17%
Total: 87% = A-