You must understand, a movie review has two main components: a description of the movie and the reviewer’s opinion (the DVD review had an additional component: reviewing the bonus features).

So I’ll say this with The 40-Year-Old Virgin: I did not find it funny. That’s my opinion. But I will also add that everyone I know who has seen the movie thought it was hilarious and the summer’s best film. Maybe I had very high expectations when I saw the film, since I didn’t see it in theatres until a month after it was released. By that time, everyone had already seen it and told me how brilliant it was. “Better than Old School,” said one person. Better than Old School, my favourite movie? How dare they! So I saw the movie with a vendetta already.

And another reason I did not enjoy it is because the star, Steve Carell, is near-genius in NBC’s quasi-hit The Office, as a prickly irritating boss. But in 40-Year-Old Virgin, he plays a boring, dull, everyman. I wanted that same kookiness that I was used to seeing with Carell. I realize he was supposed to play the dull guy, and he did it quite well, but I didn’t find it that entertaining. Again, others did. It’s just my opinion, one that doesn’t match up with most people who have seen the movie.

Carell stars as the loser, the 40-year-old virgin, who has had many opportunities to alter that unfortunate title, but screws up. Then he meets a single mother and all that could change. It has its moments, but I’ll stick with my Old School DVD when I need a laugh.

Extras: The only real gem is the inside look at the chest waxing. Everything else (”You Know How I Know You’re Gay,” “Andy’s Fantasies,” deleted scenes) is a bit wacky, and worth a look.

andPOP’s rating: 2.5*
Everyone else: 4.5*
Don’t take our word for it, we’re the minority.






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