Plot: What’s it about?
Andy (Steve Carell) is forty years old, works in the stockroom at an electronics store, and is a virgin. Yes, by some cruel twist of fate he has never taken a woman to bed and now, he has given up on the prospect. His co-workers are a little creeped out by him, but they take a chance and invite him to a poker game. That is where Andy reveals the truth about his sex life, which leads to a promise from his co-workers to help him find a woman. He gets advice to just bang out a few hood rats, find the love of his life, and plant the seed to sleep with many women, so he is torn to say the least. After a couple of failed attempts to hook up, Andy meets a woman named Trish (Catherine Keener), who just walks right into his store. The two click right off and soon enough, they’re out on dates, though Andy keeps his virginity a secret. As time passes, their relationship grows, but Andy has a hard time with the transition into true adulthood. Will he able to take the next step with Trish, who he is falling for head over heels, or will his fears prevent him from keeping his true love?
This is one of the best comedies to come along in a long while, a brilliant movie that mixes real life with the absurd. That is not a simple task, but in The 40 Year Old Virgin, those elements come together to create a warm, but outlandish world. This mix of genuine emotion and over the top, often vulgar content is a combustible one, but director Judd Apatow keeps the balance in check and never lets things spiral out of control. Despite the talk of putting the pussy on a pedestal and banging hood rats, the movie has a focus on the sweeter, deeper side of romance. Some of the characters talk as if sex is the most important element, but they all seek out more, especially our main character. The writing is sharp and effective, even in this unrated version that runs over two hours, the pace is brisk and there is little down time. Carell is great as the virgin, able to portray him as a lovable loser with potential, which is just what the material seems to call for. Universal’s Double Your Pleasure Edition adds some new extras, but an upgrade depends on how much you’ll watch those new supplements.
Video: How does it look?
The 40 Year Old Virgin is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. As you’d expect from Universal, the image looks very good and presents no serious problems. The print is in great condition and free from defects, which is to be expected since the film is a very recent one. The contrast is even handed and never becomes too dark, which means detail is never obscured in the least. No errors surface in terms of color either, as the hues remains vivid and flesh tones look natural also. I knew this would be another great transfer from Universal and of course, I was right in that assumption. I do want to note that this is the same transfer as before, but it looks good, so no worries.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track won’t disappoint, but this material isn’t that powerful, so don’t expect too much. The main surround presence comes from the musical soundtrack and a few audio intensive scenes, such as the hair wax sequence. The atmosphere is active when it needs to be, but that it isn’t often and as such, the front channels handle most of the burden. This is how it should be however, as the film is dialogue driven and the vocals are well presented, with no real issues to report. This release also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary is up first, as director Judd Apatow and several prominent cast members discuss the movie. As you’d expect from this bunch, there is a lot humor to be found, but also some good behind the scenes information. You’ll hear a lot about memories from the shoot and assorted production stories, so not much focus on technical data here. You’ll find all the previously available deleted scenes, but in this new version, you can also check out seventeen minutes of new deleted scenes, which has to be great news for fans. In addition, you can view extended versions of the You Know How I Know You’re Gay? and Date-A-Palooza sequences, as well as a look inside the chest waxing situation. A reel of raw footage from various scenes focuses on Steve Carell’s improvisations, while Line-O-Rama lets the rest of the cast show off some memorable ad-libs. This release also includes a reel of outtakes, a My Dinner with Stormy piece, an excerpt from The Reel Comedy Roundtable, a Cinemax: Final Cut featurette, and some audition footage.
