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# Cherry jubilee: ‘Virgin’ a gas
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/cherry-jubilee-virgin-a-gas/
- Published: 2005-08-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:36:07.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

I cannot remember laughing much harder than I did during the scene in this movie when Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) wakes up with a stiffy and pees on his own face. Crude? Damn straight. But as presented here it’s lowbrow comedy of the highest order, folks, and believe it or not, “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” (written by Carell and “Freaks & Geeks” creator Judd Apatow, making his feature film directorial debut) is more than just a puerile frat-boy romp. Off-color dude-humor abounds, to be sure, but like many R-rated comedies of late, this one also embraces its inner chick flick. The hero’s on a mission to engage in a long overdue roll in the hay, but it’s clear that what he’s truly after is the love of a good woman.

Carell, “The Daily Show” alum turned scene-stealing cinematic second-fiddle (“Anchorman,” “Bruce Almighty”), is absolutely hilarious and awfully sweet too as the meek, meticulous electronics store stockroom worker who collects action figures and travels by bicycle. In an awkward attempt to participate in some sex banter with his co-workers — Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen — Andy describes the feel of a woman’s breast as sand-like, and just like that, his chastity is out of the bag. Andy’s buddies are all very funny and their futile attempts to help him score produce some of the movie’s most memorable moments. Misguided notions of what women want and how men ought to give it to them land Andy in all sorts of misadventures, with a variety of women who aren’t quite right: Among them, oversexed bookstore clerk Beth (“Seabiscuit’s” Elizabeth Banks) and a party girl in desperate need of a designated driver (Leslie Mann). All the women in “Virgin” deliver fantastic, none better than Katherine Keener, playing against type as an easy-going single mom who gives Andy all the reason he needs to give it up. My only gripe is that the film runs about 20 minutes too long. (Rated R for pervasive sexual content, language and some drug use. Running time: 116 minutes)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 19, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)