No. 24: The 40 Year Old Virgin

My All Time Favorite Movies: Number 24

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen

Not exactly the most hard to find, subtle movie on my list, The 40 Year Old Virgin may be the most sophomoric, yet consistently funny and charming romantic comedy in movie history. What starts as a simple "guy must get laid" premise, turns into a love story with a real relationship at its heart. The progression of the courtship between Steve Carell's titular geek Andy, and the always appealing Catherine Keener's Trish comes to satisfying fruition at the films (pun intended) climax.

The film is fillled with zany set pieces including a tryst with a margarita spewing barmaid, the speed dating round from hell, and the most devilishly painful 3 minutes on film, Andy's chest waxing appointment. Andy gets terrible advice from his co-workers, one a pothead, one a player, and one a man scorned, and yet Andy is the one who respects women and treats them with kindness. If foul language, graphic sex talk, and bodily fluid jokes offend, this is not the film for you. But at it's core is a heart as big as Andy's action figure collection.

Is it wrong to love this movie? It's a pure love like Andy's. More of a respect really. Steve Carell is the rare comedian who we both laugh with because of how smart he is, and yet laugh at without feeling guilty for it. An everyman who can be the charming lead romantic figure and also the Xbox playing, Asia humming, bike riding uber geek, Carell shines. From his deliciously awkward role as the world's worst boss Michael Scott on TV's The Office to roles in films such as this or the Academy award winning Little Miss Sunshine, he's on the short list of the funniest men in show business. Now he's on my list.