According to a study on adolescent sexuality, the average age teenagers lose their virginity in the United States is around 17 years old. However, seventeen is a general estimate, and the specific age can vary based on individual circumstances and background. For example, some studies show a median age of 16.9 years for teenagers, with some variation by gender and ethnicity. By age 25, 90% of Americans have had sex. Andy (Steve Carell; The Office) is the anomaly who, at the age of 40, has never had sex. Once his friends find out, they make it their mission to get Andy laid. Thus is the premise of Universal Studios' 2005 hit film, The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
During an after-hours poker game, David (Pal Rudd; Ant-Man), Cal (Seth Rogen; This Is the End), Jay (Romany Malco; Weeds), and Andy (Carell) start discussing their encounters with women and their sexual experiences. As they share their stories, it becomes clear to the others that Andy has never actually had sex. Determined to help Andy, David, Cal, and Jay offer advice, tutor Andy in the art form of picking up women and personal grooming. Meanwhile, Andy starts "dating" Trish (Catherine Kenner; Get Out), whom he really likes but is afraid to sleep with because he doesn't want to disappoint her.
Written by Carell and Judd Apatow (Trainwreck) and directed by Apatow, The 40-Year-Old Virgin offers audiences exactly what they expect from this comedy team. The story is the vehicle to set up funny gags and awkward moments, but it doesn't have a great deal of substance to it. The cast does a great job delivering their lines, and there are some brilliant moments that were completely improvised (famously the "you know how I know you're gay?" scene). Carell plays the sensitive and mildly awkward Andy beautifully, and his costars play their parts expertly. Jane Lynch (Glee) has a minor but comedic role, and she does a great job.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin has never looked better. The Dolby Vision video is so sharp that you can see each individual chest hair on Andy before they get ripped from his body. The color saturation is deep, and the brightness is perfectly balanced. The details are clean and look as if you could just reach out and grab them.
The Dolby Atmos is just as good as the Dolby Vision, and the two technical aspects complement each other well. The soundtrack sits comfortably in the surround speakers, offering the audience full immersion into the world of Michael McDonald, as well as other talented artists. The mix is well done as the music does not overpower the dialogue.
The combo pack includes the 4K Disc, the Blu-ray Disc, and the digital download. There are also a number of extras included, but most of the extras are recycled from previous versions. However, there is one new extra, an audio commentary including some of the cast members, that makes this purchase worthwhile. The extras are: NEW! 20th Anniversary Discussion - Included are Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Jane Lynch, Kat Dennings and Gerry Bednob., Audio Commentary, Deleted Scenes (though they are included in this unrated version of the film), Date-a-Palooza, Line-O-Rama, Judd's Video Diaries, Auditions, Raw Footage, Rehearsals, Reel Comedy Roundtable, Cinemax Final Cut: The 40-Year-Old Virgin, 1970s Sex Ed Film, My Dinner with Stormy, Gag Reel, and Waxing Doc.
If you like what I describe as "stupid" humor, you are sure to love The 40-Year-Old Virgin. However, since I don't generally lean towards this type of humor, the movie isn't high on my list of "must-own" comedies. The film does have its merits, and I can see what Carell and Apatow were going for, but I honestly only laughed twice, both times at Rudd's lines. That isn't to say The 40-Year-Old Virgin isn't a good film or that this 4K release isn't worth it. The movie has a fanbase, and if you are among that group, you need to get this 20th anniversary, unrated, 4K release.
Grade: B
