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Movie Reviews, & Film Industry Commentary
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2005 – R – 116 min.
Director: Judd Apatow
Primary Cast: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch, Nancy Walls
Stars **** (of 5)
Popcorn **** (of 5)
Film Type(s): Comedy, Dating, Romance, Slapstick, Gross-Out, Best Friends
Synopsis: Andy (Carell) reads comic books, collects toys, does karaoke and works for the billing department of Smart Tech electronics store. He is also approaching middle age and, through a series of mishaps and jitters with women, has never had sex. When his Co-Workers (Rudd, Malco, and Rogen) tell tales of their differing conquests, they figure out Andy’s secret and try to help him out with bar hopping, serial dating, and chest waxing. But will they relent when he falls for a gorgeous and intelligent Grandmother, Trish (Keener), who has had relationship problems in the past?
Review: The gross-out, romantic comedy is not normally a film genre many associate with good writing, but this film is the exception to the rule. Written and Co-Produced by former “Daily Show” correspondent Steve Carell based on a character he developed while working with Chicago’s Second City improv troupe with Director Apatow, Virgin relies on the human element, rather than the circumstances, for the laughs. In spite of some of the childish escapades, the film works because of Carell’s honest performance as Andy and intelligent approach Keener brings to Trish. While Andy is surrounded by Co-Workers that mean well, but do stupid things, none of the characters are treated as stupid (as often happens in this genre of film). Carell and Apatow have admitted that some scenes that made it into the film were entirely improvised (mainly ones with Rudd and Rogen), and some, like the waxing scene (as can painfully be seen on the Special Features of the DVD) were both planned and very real. Look for Carell’s wife and fellow former “Daily Show” correspondent Nancy Walls and Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann as a scene stealing, fall over drunk.
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