SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Nice effects though.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Steve Carrell delivers a subtly fantastic performance in this hilarious comedy. But just because it's silly and funny, doesn't mean that's all that it is. Towards the end of the movie, I found myself watching a film about modern ideas of masculinity. There really is a strong narrative hidden behind uproarious comedy and obnoxious jokes. However, where "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" really demonstrates its strengths is simply in the comedy. It truly is a very funny movie, and a smart, touching film as well. Unlike similar comedies nowadays, it asks more of the film by taking the story a step further than creating laughs.

'The 40 Year Old Virgin' is an easy and fun movie to watch when you just want to kick back. Without stuffing the movie with unnecessary vulgarities (compared to current movies) the movie tried to stand on its own with the help of the actors performances, especially Steve Carell's. The movie felt strangely innocent just like a virgin for the amount of boobs that were bouncing around in the screen.Overall, 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' is a popcorn movie without ever attempting to be something more than it is.

The 40-Year Old Virgin was cutting edge back in the day. At the time of its first release, I don't remember seeing any other movies exploring sex jokes and awkward virgins the way this movie does. The great thing is that this movie could've gone in a really bad direction, and not have had any depth to it, but while being funny and goofy, Andy and Trish's love story and the lessons he learns from his first real relationship are life lessons that can apply to anybody going through a relationship, whether they are virgins or not. The first half of the film might be uncomfortable for feminists. At first, there are a lot of misogynistic jokes and Andy's "friends" seem really shallow. But over time, the course of their friendship develops and you see that even these guys have some depth to them. I really enjoyed this. It didn't have me reeling from laughter, but it made for a nice, light romantic comedy in its own sense.

One of Apatow's signatures is to really dig deep into his characters; which, for a comedy, sometimes ends up turning things unexpectedly serious and/or surprisingly heartwarming. For FUNNY PEOPLE and KNOCKED UP, toying with drastic genre shifts was tolerable because there was at least payoff with good jokes and interesting characters. However, in his 2005 outing about sweet but overly awkward Carell, there is a major lack of satisfaction when attempting to explore the root-causes of why our main character just can't (or won't) "get any". The jokes are few-and-far-between, but when they are finally delivered, it is so juvenile that actual 40-year-old virgin aren't even this desperate for a laugh. Its attempts at being funny are the painful reactions of getting waxed (hairy people don't get laid?) or that our maiden-man thinks breasts are hard (you have to feel them to know they're soft?).* (out of four)