I can't remember the last time I saw a movie as funny as this one. I've always loved watching Steve Carell on The Daily Show, but I honestly never imagined him starring in a movie. Now that he has his own showcase, it looks and feels so natural, like he's been starring in summer comedy blockbusters for most of his career. Carell is a master at making people laugh, and I'm sure this movie will launch his career into space. At first look, this is just your typical raunchy comedy blockbuster- and it is-but it also has a tender story, and rather than Carell's character, it defends him.
40 year old Andy (Carell) works as a stockboy at a Best Buy-like electronic store. He lives a fairly normal life- arraning his breakfast plate perfectly with slices of toast, he collects tons of action figures and videogames, and he watches Survivor with his neighbors. And he's never had sex his entire life. Roped into a card game with his co-workers, this little fact comes out, and they become determined to fix this little problem.
Of course, for innocent Andy, this never really was a problem. It's really more of a lifestyle choice for him. He never met the right girl, it never happened for him, so he just gave up. As his buddies take him through various stages of dating, he actually meets a girl with substance, and one that he actually likes. Her name is Trish (Catherine Keener), who works across the street. They go on a few dates, and after their first sexual attempt is broken up by her teenage daughter, and Andy's inability to use a condom correctly, they decide to wait, and genuinely fall in love before they have sex. While this is funny from Andy's point of view, it's also touching and a little refreshing. Andy is a fun character to really root for, something that a lot of comedies, hell, movies in general lack.
So while it's touching and refreshing, it is also downright hysterical. Andy is puked on, tempted by a transvestite hooker, and has half his chest waxed (in which has to be one of the funniest scenes in the movie). I found myself laughing at least every thirty seconds, I honestly can't think of a single time that the movie sagged. This is something that is rare for many comedies, to be consistently funny the whole way through, without losing it's grip on the story.
It helps that all the characters are realistic in some funny way. So even if you don't usually watch movies like this one, I highly recommend this to anyone. You'll identify with at least one of the characters, and you'll all identify with Andy whether you're a virgin or not. Give it a try, it's a funny movie that has a lot of heart.