MOVIE REVIEW: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” stars Steve Carell (Foxcatcher, Little Miss Sunshine), Catherine Keener (Capote, Get Out), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man, I Love You Man), Romany Malco (Weeds [TV series], Think Like a Man), Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, The Disaster Artist), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Love & Mercy), Leslie Mann (The Cable Guy, Rio), Jane Lych (Wreck-It Ralph, Glee [TV series]), Gerry Bednob (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Encino Man), Shelley Malil (The Bourne Supremacy, Holes), and Kat Dennings (Thor, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist). It is directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Funny People), who also wrote it with Steve Carell. After discovering that their co-worker Andy (Carell) is a virgin, a group of friends try to help him get laid.

Recently, I finished a MasterClass with Judd Apatow, director of such comedy moneymakers as “Knocked Up,” “This is 40,” and “Funny People.” Of course, one of his most memorable releases is “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” which he crafted with comedy legend Steve Carell. Up until now, I had never seen it (I haven’t seen any of Apatow’s directorials for that matter). However, having taken his class, which offered several visuals and examples taken from that flick, I thought I’d give it a shot; watch a movie on a middle-aged man trying to lose his virginity for research. The result? I was very entertained. There’s many different directions Apatow and Carell could’ve taken this story, as well as the character of Andy Stitzer. Thankfully, they approached it in a fairly realistic sense, though with silly circumstances. Andy is your average Joe, who loves collecting toys, playing video games, and painting miniatures. It isn’t until his work associates find out he’s a virgin that he’s called to action. What unfolds is fairly hilarious. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is piled high with comedy favorites, from Paul Rudd to Seth Rogen to Leslie Mann. Even a very young Jonah Hill makes a guest appearance as a boy trying to buy sparkling women’s boots (for reasons I’m still unsure of). This is the kind of film you’d expect from these individuals: raunchy humor and wild situations. What makes it stand out, however, is its heart. At the core of this movie is a man who is trying to find love that transcends the boundaries of sex. The relationships he forms on this journey play into this overall theme, and make the experience more worth it than just the typical sex joke. Of course, that’s not to say you won’t be subjected to some pretty lewd moments. I watched the unrated version of this feature (the only version I had access to) and the filmmakers made sure to toss in as much nudity as possible. Some of it made me laugh, others not as much. But I knew what to expect, people. It’s called “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” after all. I’d honestly say it’s one of the best examples of modern comedy, as it deals with touchy topics while injecting both ludicrous (but realistic) laughs and sentiment. By the movie’s end, I was smiling. There was not only resolve, but Apatow and Carell made sure to take their theme to the bank. Andy went the distance, and it paid off by the conclusion. Obviously, some memorable moments are the waxing scene and Andy’s friends clearing out his place of all nerdy stuff. For those who are interested in low-brow comedies with heart, this is a classic. I enjoyed it and was surprised to find it had a solid theme enforced. FINAL SCORE: 83%= Juicy Popcorn

Here is the trailer: