The 40 Year Old Virgin

(2005) dir. Judd Apatow
viewed: 07/27/06

I could never be a mainstream film critic, not simply because I don’t write well nor try to emulate that fashion, but also because I am not 100% in step with typical opinions of things.  For instance when it comes to comedies, I often feel like I don’t have a sense of humor.  I think most comedies are strictly unfunny.  I’m some sort of curmudgeon or something, sadly.

That said, even with that caveat, I actually kind of enjoyed this movie.  I did find aspects of it funny and even charming in ways.  Comedies like this one aren’t particularly sophisticated from a narrative standpoint, and when they try to channel any emotion besides laughter, it’s usually pretty pap-like and simplistic.  But this film carries heavily on Steve Carell’s performance, not just being funny, but developing the character enough that he’s not just a composite of the quirks and characteristics that make him the pathetic fellow who beyond being inexperienced in sex is also pretty much a huge geek.

I mentioned that I was watching this film to a friend and she said, “That should be cute.”  And though I first thought that it would probably be a little more crude and gauche than cute, I have to say that she was pretty right.  I wouldn’t, however, want to be stuck watching this film with my in-laws or anyone with whom the humor might offer a significant pain of embarrassment.  But, it’s not bad.