Review: The 40-Year-Old Virgin

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Every year there seems to be a comedy that finds a new way to make us laugh in the aisles. There is always one that is funnier than the rest. Well fear not, movie-goer, that comedy has arrived.

Steve Carell stars as Andy Stitzer, a shy, reclusive guy who works in the tech-shop in the back of one of those giant electronics stores like Best Buy. Andy lives alone, is an avid collector, and rides his bike to work every day. Andy is also 40 and still a virgin.

One day, some of the guys at work ask Andy to play in their staff poker game and Andy reluctantly agrees. During the course of the game, the guys start telling some sex stories and when it comes to Andy's turn, he freezes. He tries but the guys learn his secret.

The guys take Andy out and introduce him to all sorts of things, including a couple girls â€" Beth (Elizabeth Banks), a wild bookstore clerk and Trish (Catherine Keener), a single mother.

The film is smart in how it approaches its subject matter and the jokes just don't stop. Carell is priceless as the centre character. With this and the success of his new NBC sitcom, The Office, Carell is going to quickly become the new comedian to watch on both the small and silver screens.

I also really loved the tour-de-force performance of Elizabeth Banks. This girl just went with her character, and the whole love scene late in the flick is outrageously funny. I don't think there are many actresses that would have gone so far and still kept us laughing.

Catherine Keener is solid as the single mom and has some nice tender moments with Carell.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is one of those surprises that comes out of left field. It's quite a surprise in such a dismal box office year and a surprise that finally we have a summer comedy to cheer about. Skip the Wedding and meet the Virgin. (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

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