The 40 Year Old Virgin

In the year of the R-rated comedy it was a tale of a middle-aged super-nerd who had yet to knock boots that was the most successful in balancing crudeness and cleverness. Steve Carell completely nails the role of Andy Stitzer, a genuinely lovable man who had some bad mishaps with girls when he was young and basically gave up trying to lose his virginity, focusing his energy on his obscene collection of action figures and video games. There's a moment where Andy is playing poker with his co-workers when the news of his lack of experience slips out and he awkwardly tries to describe his fabricated history of romps. His loss of words and utter devastation of his life-long secret being exposed are comical but completely natural, and it's then we realise that Apatow and Carell have penned a script that is more than the classic college formula of "friends trying to get someone laid." The 40 Year Old Virgin can be ridiculous and often is, but there's a tone set throughout that sympathises with Andy and treats him with the respect he deserves as he gets back on the saddle and tries to finally have sex, but strictly on his terms and with the full support of his friends. Yes, it is possible to have a film called the 40 Year Old Virgin that's touching and incredibly hilarious. It shouldn't be surprising though, as Apatow (Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared) has been creating magical moments for years in television by allowing his cast to improvise with fantastic results, not only excelling with fresh dialogue but also giving his work that believable, human touch. The DVD, of course, boasts that it contains a "raw, uncut" version that will make 15-year-old boys wet their pants, but this is an extended version that packs in even more sexually-driven moments, including deleted scenes with porn star Stormy Daniels and a great fantasy sequence with Jamie Elle Mann that should have been left in. There are also extended scenes that are usually a complete bore, but when you have an uncut marathon of Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd's "you know how I know you're gay?," you can't help but want more. There's a featurette on the now infamous chest waxing scene (complete with a lengthy list of curse words for Andy to scream out during each tear), as well as a nervous Rogen conducting a heated interview with Stormy. There is all of this plus an essential commentary with Carell and Apatow. This DVD could very well be the first "unrated edition" that lives up to those expectations. Plus: gag reel. (Universal)