The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)

The critic finds it one of the best Hollywood comedies in years despite the poor title. They praise its mix of desperation, dignity, lunacy and wit, along with strong lead performances from Carell and Keener.

The film is a big-hearted but uneven comedy that splits between raunchy stoner antics and a sensitive but unfunny middle-aged romance operating at cross purposes. Carell's charming lead performance and the cast's chemistry keep it afloat despite the tonal clashes.

The review calls it scattershot hilarious with warmth behind the smutty laughs, highlighting Steve Carell's leap to leading man as both funny and human, plus the memorable improvised waxing scene.

The critic admits to laughing heartily at the resolutely vulgar, gross and non-PC tale, crediting Steve Carell's amusing and sympathetic performance and Judd Apatow's handling of the icky humour, though noting it loses its way before the end.

The critic finds the film delightfully disgusting yet faintly disappointing, hampered by being overlong and slightly muddled, but praises it as an enjoyable showcase for Steve Carell's superb performance.

The comedy delivers effective lewd gags and Carell's blank naïveté in awkward sexual situations but ultimately succumbs to conservative romanticism and tired stereotypes about race and sexuality. The gross-out highlights like the morning-wood pee scene are a minor saving grace amid the formulaic script.

The review calls the film very funny yet refreshingly grounded and emotionally mature, turning a raucous premise into a sweet ode to male friendship and middle-aged love. It praises the empathetic handling of the characters and the performances of Carell and Keener.

The critic finds the film a charmingly bent comedy that shifts from raunchy sex gags to genuine romance. She singles out Steve Carell’s tamped-down performance and the warm, funny chemistry with Catherine Keener for praise.

The critic finds the film frequently funny with strong performances but notes it is crude, sophomorically homophobic, overstays its welcome, and indulges in juvenile excesses. It delivers enough belly laughs to appeal especially to a younger audience.

The film delivers varied humor across different scenarios rather than repeating jokes, with a strong vehicle for Steve Carell that makes the audience sympathetic to the lead and root for him, supported by a likeable cast. It could use some trimming but keeps viewers engaged through its mix of character care and comedy.

The critic finds the film a worthy and balanced successor to There's Something About Mary, delivering both crude laughs and realistic observations about dating and male friendships. Apatow is praised for creating a likeable central character and mixing gross-out gags with genuine insight.