The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin (original title)

Popularity:

Up 70% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Judd Apatow

Writers (WGA):

Judd Apatow (written by) &
Steve Carell (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A Comedy about the moments that touch us in ways we've never been touched before.

Plot:

Goaded by his buddies, a nerdy guy who's never "done the deed" only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.

Plot Keywords:

40 Year Old | Collection | Poker | Virgin | Comic Book

Awards:

12 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Steve Carell	...	Andy
Catherine Keener	...	Trish
Paul Rudd	...	David
Romany Malco	...	Jay
Seth Rogen	...	Cal
Elizabeth Banks	...	Beth
Leslie Mann	...	Nicky
Jane Lynch	...	Paula
Gerry Bednob	...	Mooj
Shelley Malil	...	Haziz
Kat Dennings	...	Marla
Jordan Masterson	...	Mark
Chelsea Smith	...	Julia
Jonah Hill	...	eBay Customer
Erica Vittina Phillips	...	Jill
Marika Dominczyk	...	Bernadette
Mindy Kaling	...	Amy
Mo Collins	...	Gina
Gillian Vigman	...	Woman at Speed Dating
Kimberly Page	...	Woman at Speed Dating
Siena Goines	...	Woman at Speed Dating
Charlie Hartsock	...	Speed Dating MC
Nancy Carell	...	Health Clinic Counselor (as Nancy Walls)
Cedric Yarbrough	...	Dad at Health Clinic
David Koechner	...	Dad at Health Clinic
Jeff Kahn	...	Dad at Health Clinic
Nick Lashaway	...	Boy at Health Clinic
Loren Berman	...	Boy at Health Clinic
Julian Foster	...	Boy at Health Clinic
Loudon Wainwright III	...	Priest (as Loudon Wainwright)
Lee Weaver	...	Joe
Gloria Helena Jones	...	Sara
Jazzmun	...	Prostitute
Miki Mia	...	Waxing Lady
Denise Meyerson	...	Robin
Shannon Bradley	...	Bar Girl
Brianna Brown	...	Bar Girl (as Brianna Lynn Brown)
Liz Carey	...	Bar Girl (as Elizabeth Carey)
Elizabeth DeCicco	...	Bar Girl
Hilary Shepard	...	Bar Girl
Barret Swatek	...	Bar Girl
Carla Gallo	...	Toe-Sucking Girl
Michael Bierman	...	16 Year-Old Andy
Marisa Guterman	...	Girl with Braces
Stormy Daniels	...	Porn Star
Kevin Hart	...	Smart Tech Customer
Wayne Federman	...	Smart Tech Customer
Ron Marasco	...	Smart Tech Customer
Joseph T. Mastrolia	...	Smart Tech Customer
Kate Luyben	...	Woman Buying Videotapes
Joe Nunez	...	Man Buffing Floor (as Joseph A. Nuñez)
Matt McKane	...	Motorist (as Matthew McKane)
Rose Abdoo	...	Mother at Restaurant
Steve Bannos	...	Father at Restaurant
Brooke Hamlin	...	Daughter at Restaurant
Miyoko Shimosawa	...	Waitress at Restaurant
Marilyn Dodds Frank	...	Woman Who Bought Television
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laura Bottrell	...	College Girl (uncredited)
Ann Christine	...	Kim (uncredited)
Jenna Fischer	...	Woman #1 (uncredited)
Mandy Freund	...	Speed Dater (uncredited)
Nicole Randall Johnson	...	Speed Dater (uncredited)
Brandon Killham	...	Young Andy (uncredited)
Sylvan De LaFeuille	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
Stephanie Lemelin	...	Woman #2 (uncredited)
Casey Lowe	...	Background (uncredited)
Jamie Elle Mann	...	Newswoman (uncredited)
Sarah McCann	...	Cafe Girl (uncredited)
Leah McCormick	...	Girl in Electronic Store (uncredited)
Suzy Nakamura	...	Speed Dater (uncredited)
Samantha J. Reese	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Brittney Skye	...	Porn Actress (uncredited)
Phyllis Smith	...	Andy's Mother (uncredited)
Wyatt Smith	...	Boy at Wedding (uncredited)
Kira Turnage	...	Customer (uncredited)
Penny Vital	...	Redhead (uncredited)
Christa Nicole Wells	...	Shopping Girl (uncredited)
Christopher T. Wood	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Judd Apatow

Writing credits (WGA)
Judd Apatow		(written by) &
Steve Carell		(written by)

Produced by
Judd Apatow	....	producer
Steve Carell	....	executive producer
Andrew Jay Cohen	....	associate producer
Jon Poll	....	executive producer
Shauna Robertson	....	producer
Seth Rogen	....	co-producer
Clayton Townsend	....	producer

Original Music by
Lyle Workman

Cinematography by
Jack N. Green		(director of photography) (as Jack Green)

Film Editing by
Brent White

Casting by
Marla Garlin
Allison Jones

Production Design by
Jackson De Govia

Art Direction by
Tom Reta

Set Decoration by
K.C. Fox

Costume Design by
Debra McGuire

Makeup Department
Felicity Bowring	....	assistant makeup artist
Ann Pala	....	key makeup artist (as Ann Pala Taylor)
Thomas Real	....	key hair stylist
Kim Santantonio	....	assistant hair stylist
Nancy Tong	....	assistant hair stylist (as Nanxy Tong-Heater)
Gary Archer	....	dental prosthetics (uncredited)
Corrina Duran	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Mike Mekash	....	tattoo makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lisa Rodgers	....	post-production supervisor
Clayton Townsend	....	unit production manager
Gary R. Wordham	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Dress	....	second second assistant director (as Pete Dress)
Jessica Lowrey	....	dga trainee
Rusty Mahmood	....	second assistant director
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Richard Boris	....	greens foreman
Larry Boyd	....	set dresser
Dominick Bruno	....	set dresser (as Dominick R. Bruno)
Susan A. Burig	....	graphic designer
Lorrie Campbell	....	set designer
Peggy Casey	....	buyer
Mario D'Alfonso	....	labor foreman
Cosmas A. Demetriou	....	set designer
Dennis DeWaay	....	construction coordinator (as Dennis De Waay)
Eric DeWaay	....	gangboss (as Eric De Waay)
Amelia Drake	....	on-set dresser
Jennifer Fleury	....	on-set dresser
Andrew P. Flores	....	stand-by painter (as Andy Flores)
Scott Garrett	....	set dresser
Brad Good	....	assistant property master (as Bradley Good)
Raymond C. Lopez	....	plaster foreman
Sean Mannion	....	property master
Sarah Emily Nelson	....	art department coordinator
James F. Orendorff	....	general foreman (as Jamie Orendorff)
Enrico Paronelli	....	head painter
Christopher Schultz	....	assistant property master (as Christopher A. Schultz)
Josh Sheppard	....	storyboard artist
Lindsey Sjoberg	....	art production assistant
Mike Virnig	....	set dresser
Mark Woods	....	leadman
Antonio Andraus	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Michael Denering	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Ryan Patrick Kelly	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Randy Morgan	....	key scenic artist (uncredited)
Gary Stel	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Jason Baldwin Stewart	....	assistant food stylist (uncredited)
Marc Tantin	....	welder (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor (as George Anderson)
Bill Burns	....	adr assistant editor
Rich Coleman	....	dubbing recordist
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
Tammy Fearing	....	adr supervisor
Larry Kemp	....	dialogue editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Harrison D. Marsh	....	boom operator (as Harrison Marsh)
Cindy Marty	....	sound effects editor
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Brion Paccassi	....	dubbing recordist
Kevin E. Patterson	....	sound utility
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Cherie Tamai	....	first assistant sound editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
John Clavin	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Gregg Landaker	....	supervising sound mixer (uncredited)
Stephen Muir	....	foley recording assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Porrello	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Abel Schiro	....	sound utility (uncredited)

Special Effects by
William H. Schirmer	....	special effects supervisor
Richard Stutsman	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Calvert	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ryan Beadle	....	digital i/o (uncredited)
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Dennis Dorney	....	digital lineup (uncredited)
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator (uncredited)
Nicholas Kim	....	title designer (uncredited)
Lori C. Miller	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	digital colorist (uncredited)
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
William H. Burton Jr.	....	stunt player (as Billy Burton Jr.)
Eddy Donno	....	stunt player
Tony Donno	....	stunt player
Debbie Evans	....	stunt player
Tim Gilbert	....	stunt player
Greg Harris	....	stunt player
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Gayle Hooker	....	stunt player (as Gayle Sherman)
Jayme Jensen	....	stunt player
Shawn Kautz	....	stunt player
Ralph W. Odum	....	stunt player (as Ralph Odum)
Chad Randall	....	stunt player
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunt player (as Jimmy Roberts)
Erik Stabenau	....	stunt player
Michael Weis	....	stunt player
Scott Wilder	....	stunt player
Shawn Odum	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunt double: Steve Carell (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kent Baker	....	key rigging grip
Renzo Bartolotta	....	rigging electric
Tony Blaszczyk	....	rigging grip
Brad Boyer	....	dolly grip
Dale Cole	....	grip
Jerry C. Deats	....	key grip
Brian Dennis	....	rigging electric
Sean Devine	....	dolly grip
Frank Dorowsky	....	rigging gaffer
Robert Dudley	....	rigging best boy grip
Dave Ellis	....	rigging grip
Rod Farley	....	grip (as Roderick G. Farley)
Megan Forste	....	second assistant camera
Steven Frohardt	....	rigging grip
Ray Garcia	....	grip
Craig Garfield	....	grip
Antonio V. Garrido	....	grip (as Antonio Garrido)
Peter N. Green	....	first assistant camera
Ryan Green	....	camera operator
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
Steve House	....	rigging grip
Jay M. Huntoon	....	video assist/playback (as Jay Huntoon)
Frank R. Jimenez Jr.	....	set lighting technician (as Frank Jimenez Jr.)
Jeffrey A. Johnson	....	best boy grip (as Jeffrey Johnson)
Lawrence Karman	....	camera operator
Lawrence Karman	....	steadicam operator
Scott C. Keys	....	best boy rigging electric (as Scott Keys)
Tucker Korte	....	film loader (as Matthew Tucker Korte)
Stephen MacDougall	....	second assistant camera
Mike Macias	....	set lighting technician
Jon D. Morrison	....	set lighting technician
Ron Provenzano	....	set lighting technician
Chad Rivetti	....	first assistant camera (as Chad L. Rivetti)
Jason Salonen	....	set lighting technician (as Jason L. Salonen)
Ron Santoyo	....	grip
David Thielhart	....	best boy electric
Ira Toles	....	24 frame/video playback (as Ira D. Toles)
H. Mark Vuille	....	chief lighting technician
Doug Wall	....	grip (as Douglas L. Wall)
Tom Wholey	....	set lighting technician
Michael D. Anderson	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Ben Bowling	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jose Danner	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Christopher Dorowsky	....	electrician (uncredited)
Christian J. Killingsworth	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Bill Marti	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Dan Ming	....	additional assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony Olivieri	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Raul Riveros	....	additional film loader (uncredited)
Michael J. Schwartz	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Joshua D. Thatcher	....	lighting programmer (uncredited)
Joseph D. Urbanczyk	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting: Casting Associates
Carol Grant	....	extras casting: Casting Associates
Wendy Hoffman	....	adr voice casting (as Wendy Hoffmann)
David Kramer	....	extras casting: Casting Associates
Michelle Rejwan	....	casting assistant
Terry L. Lamfers	....	casting executive (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ashlyn Angel	....	costume production assistant
Winifred Clements	....	costume buyer
Jennifer Iizuka	....	key set costumer
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	costume supervisor
Katrina Mastrolia	....	costume supervisor
Michael A. Russell	....	key set costumer

Editorial Department
Craig Alpert	....	additional editor
Laura Behary	....	assistant editor: film
Melissa Bretherton	....	additional editor
Nathan Bruner	....	editorial production assistant
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Alex Hepburn	....	first assistant editor: Avid
Michael Hofacre	....	assistant editor: Avid
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Ray Neapolitan	....	first assistant editor: film
Cambric White	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator: songs
Bryan Carrigan	....	scoring operator (as Brian Carrigan)
Joe Chicarelli	....	music recording engineer (as Joe Chiccarelli)
Chris Fogel	....	score mixer
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Universal Pictures
Manish Raval	....	music consultant
Tom Wolfe	....	music consultant
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)
Julie Eidsvoog	....	music preparation: songs (uncredited)
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
M.B. Gordy	....	musician: percussion (uncredited)
Tim Rodier	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tina L. Fortenberry	....	transportation dispatcher
Ron Poniewaz Jr.	....	transportation captain
Steve D. Weinmuller	....	transportation coordinator (as Steve Weinmuller)
Tim Abbatoye	....	transportation co-captain (uncredited)
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Betz	....	assistant location manager
Ericka Bryce	....	medic
Selena Carrillo	....	assistant production coordinator (as Selena Pivac)
Russell Cowan	....	assets
Andrew Epstein	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow
Karen Faust	....	second assistant accountant
Anne Fletcher	....	choreographer
Meredith Humbracht	....	production coordinator
Peter Jablonski	....	office production assistant (as Pete Jablonski)
Fallon Johnson	....	production assistant
Tammy Kalka	....	medic
Nancy Karlin	....	script supervisor
Alex Kivlen	....	assistant location manager
John C. Kruize	....	production accountant
Jason Kumalo	....	set production assistant
Ernest H. Lauterio	....	craft service
Sabrina LeBrun	....	office production assistant
Carol McConnaughey	....	unit publicist
David Mendoza	....	key set production assistant
Mike Mittendorff	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow (as Michael Mittendorf)
Cindy Nevins	....	payroll accountant (as Cindy Nevins-Coon)
Brendan O'Brien	....	assistant: Ms. Robertson
Randy Offer	....	projectionist
Robert Paulsen	....	key assistant location manager
Ron Pekkala	....	rigging medic
Luis R. Quintero	....	accounting clerk
Larry Ring	....	location manager
Gail Rose	....	post-production accountant (as Gail Rose Abrahamson)
Terence Rosemore	....	production assistant
Michelle Schrauwers	....	set production assistant
Lori Scowley	....	first assistant accountant
Nancy A. Terriberry	....	construction accountant
William S. Turchyn II	....	craft service (as William Turchyn II)
Summer Valdes	....	production secretary (as Summer Valdés)
Brad Warden	....	assistant location manager
Zachary Woodlee	....	assistant choreographer
Brook Worley	....	assistant: Mr. Townsend
Natalie Alexander	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Tracy Browne	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Brian Clark	....	rigging medic (uncredited)
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Adam Jordan	....	background coordinator (uncredited)
Kevin Maier	....	stand-in: Steve Carell (uncredited)
Myke Mansberger	....	studio services manager (uncredited)
Jay May	....	product placement (uncredited)
Kristy Pace	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Stephanie A. Purdy	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Karly Rothenberg	....	adr voice match (uncredited)
Kevin Roy	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Mary C. Snyder	....	title designer (uncredited)
Carlos Tower	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Matt Tulve	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mark Van Horne	....	laboratory contact (uncredited)

Thanks
Mark Burnett	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Perry Goldstein	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Michael McDonald	....	the filmmakers wish to thank: you rock!

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Apatow Productions (as Apatow)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal)
• Bontonfilm (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Solar Entertainment (2005) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Film1 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2008) (USA) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (unrated 2-disc edition)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (2-disc set)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (digital opticals)

Other Companies

• Activision  courtesy: "Pitfall: The Lost Expedition" and "Tony Hawk's Underground 2" game footage
• Capitol Recording Studios  recorded at (as Capitol Records)
• Casting Associates  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies (as Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.)
• Corbis  courtesy: stock photos
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables (uncredited)
• Doggicam Systems  sparrow head (uncredited)
• Earth Communications Office  courtesy: "Why Are We Here" biodiversity footage
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recording services (as Footsteps Post-Production Sound, Inc.)
• HD Net  courtesy: buffalo stock footage; used by permission (as HD Net, LLC)
• Home Box Office (HBO)  courtesy: "Everybody Loves Raymond" footage (as HBO)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Liberty International Entertainment  courtesy: Michael McDonald Concert; footage directed by Joe Thomas (as Soundstage and Liberty International Entertainment)
• Mario's Catering  caterer
• Microsoft  courtesy: "Halo 2" footage
• Midway Games  courtesy: "Mortal Combat" game footage
• Movie Movers  cast trailers (uncredited)
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers (uncredited)
• Norm Marshall and Associates  courtesy: "Halo 2" footage (as Norm Marshall & Associates)
• Paws for Effect  animals
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America  courtesy: posters & brochures (as Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.)
• Right Lobe Design Group  titles
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services (uncredited)
• Shout! Factory  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"The 40 Year Old Virgin" - USA (original title)
"The 40 Year-Old Virgin" - UK (imdb display title), USA (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive sexual content, language and some drug use

Runtime:

116 min | Philippines:112 min (cut) | 133 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby SR | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA15+ | Austria:16 | Brazil:16 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 (extended version) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-11/9 (theatrical rating) | Finland:K-12/9 (theatrical rating) (2012 reform re-rating) | Finland:K-15/13 (unrated version) | Finland:K-16/13 (unrated version) (2012 reform re-rating) | Germany:12 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | Japan:R-15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Malta:16 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (also unrated version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:R-12 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #41963)

Filming Locations:

12016 Moorpark Street, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The production used over a million feet of film, a milestone reached on the last day of filming.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: On the Michael McDonald "Soundstage" DVD, the song "Take Me In Your Arms" is being played in the background on the store entertainment system, and shows clips of Tom Johnston singing along and playing the tambourine; on the DVD, Johnston plays guitar and sings lead vocals on "Take Me In Your Arms".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe:Hey Andy! What's up, dude?
Andy Stitzer:Hey Joe. Hey Sara. How you doing?
Joe:When you gonna get a car?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "One Hit Wonderland: Word Up! By Cameo (#4.1)" (2015)

Soundtrack:

Sheepskin Tearaway

a healthy reminder that sex jokes can be well crafted; Carrell is genius

Something about the 40 Year Old Virgin and the other comedy hit of the summer, Wedding Crashers, is similar, but they are two different films in some respects. Both are romantic comedies that have that kind of over-the-top, crazy sensibility that keeps the teens and guys in their 20's along with the usual dating crowd to go see the films. Both have some sort of formula to the stories as well. But by the end of the 40 Year Old Virgin, I think I found overall it was more satisfying than 'Crashers'. Although one can guess where the relationship story with Steve Carrell's character Andy and Catherine Keener's character Trish will go to, it isn't too basic for one to figure out like with Crashers, and the characters both leading and supporting are realistic, more rounded than most of the one-dimensional or unexplained people in the other. And, perhaps, it may also depend on how much you identify (or just find the lunacy) in both.

The thing is some people may go into The 40 Year Old Virgin not knowing Steve Carrell as well as Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn, as Carrell has built up his cult status on The Daily Show (one of my favorite shows on now) and in small but unforgettably riotous roles in Anchorman and Bruce Almighty. This is his first starring role, but it's not treated like some third rate vehicle. He and co-writer/director Judd Apatow treat the character of Andy with a certain level of sincerity that keeps the audience on his side all the way, even early on as he talks to his action figures while re-painting them. It's also a tricky line to walk on- in lessor hands this could be no more or less entertaining than the Lackluster 40 Days and 40 Nights with Josh Hartnett (also about sexual dysfunction). As the title suggests, Andy is the 40 year old who is like the nice guy friend with still a little Pee-Wee Herman in him (the opening over the credits of his his apartment is hilarious, a good sign).

So, his friends (among them Paul Rudd, Romany Mancoy, Seth Rogen, all very good comic foils) try and devise different strategies and tips to finally break the sort of curse over Andy's head to pop his cherry, so to speak. He almost gets with a overly drunk woman, he almost gets with a freaky kind of girl, and almost with his own boss (Jane Lynch, also very funny in the mockumentaries) as a (explitive) buddy. But this soon all starts to fade as he gets into a meaningful relationship with Trish, who works across the street from him. As they build on a relationship not based at all on sex, one might worry that the plot gear of "how is he going to tell her such and such" might get in the way of the comedy. It doesn't. In fact, if anything, Carrell and the cast build on it to a very high degree. For practically an hour and a half of the film's two hour length, there was barely a moment I wasn't laughing, whether big or small.

The big laughs though make up for not just any kind of formalities with the plot, or one or two little stray stories (the fellow co-workers have their own relationship problems as well, Rudd's being the funniest). The big laughs come through because of Carrell's reactions, and that the people around him can either back up with their own sort of humor/charm, or that its with some truth. Keener gives a very good performance and makes it so that there is a genuine spirit to their relationship (and, un-like 'Crashers', there isn't as much that doesn't make sense character wise). For someone like me who loves it when a comedian can get laughs just from the way he looks on his face, Carrell gets very high points here. And like with a Farrelly brothers movie, the more raunchy or outrageous scenes are done with total absurdity; the 'waxing' scene (which was done for real, by the way) and the sort of Aquarius musical number towards the very end of the film (the way it comes out at first is a total, uproarious surprise). But if you're willing not to get offended by it, there's more where that came from. This is one of the funniest films of the year.