The 40-Year-Old Virgin
© James C. Hess
As a card-carrying, hard-core optimist I believe that no matter how bad a given situation gets eventually it will get better. For at least the past five years, for example, the Hollywood Machine has been dying by inches, doing itself and its audience a great disservice by consistently producing films and movies that are increasingly bad, and making no effort whatsoever to resolve this certain demise by way of preventive measures. Consequently, theatrical revenues are down, ever down, with no end in sight.
Until now, that is, by way of an otherwise non-descript flick entitled "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Here is a movie that could have continued the legacy of the crude sex comedy the Hollywood Machine takes such perverse pride in. Here is a movie that could have assured the certain death of the theatrical release by way of toilet humor that celebrates such important sociological and politically correct topics and issues as masturbation and homosexuality. Instead, here is a movie that is touching, insightful--surprisingly so, warm-hearted, tender, wonderful, sincere, funny, and worth watching again and again, akin, then, to "Napoleon Dynamite".
And the reason for why this is is singular: Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell), who is, indeed, 40 and a virgin. But he is a virgin with a cause: He rides his bicycle to work not to make a political statement because that is his preferred mode of transportation, and when he does he signals his turns and actions. He is a good guy, a nice guy, who early on quickly grew tired of things in life he doesn't understand, and avoids them as much as possible.
Of course, therein is the cause of his situation in life: Because he doesn't understand love he avoids it. Which means, yes, he is a virgin at forty years of age.
But it is not a lost cause: At the electronics superstore where he works his fellow employees spend a lot of time talking about women. Andy wants to fit in, and pretends he knows about the subject. Then it comes out he doesn't know much of anything. Fortunately, his co-workers are not cruel, mean types who would take advantage of such circumstances. Instead, they take it upon themselves to end his 40-year sexual drought, and in a singles bar, under their direction, coach him as he manages to undertake and perform that most difficult of human rituals: The mating dance.
I won't reveal specifcs of what ensues, but be assured his antics, actions, and behaviors will make you laugh, cry, and be truly thankful for what you have.
