The 40 Year Old...

It's one thing to have a raunchy sex comedy that's funny, but to have one that also contains strong storytelling, well-rounded characters, a solid message, and genuine heart? Now that's something special; and very, very rare. THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN is one such movie.

It takes a simple one-joke premise, and expands on it in a way that's both clever and discerning. In lesser hands, the concept of a movie about a 40-year-old virgin probably would've led to something obnoxious or mean-spirited. But thanks to the honest, mature approach from director/co-writer Judd Apatow (of "Freaks and Geeks" fame), the whole affair turns out to be surprisingly sweet.

Well, as sweet as a movie that includes a conversation about f*cking a horse can be. Despite being a relative newcomer during the film's release, Steve Carell (also a co-writer) surprised audiences with his endearing performance as Andy, the ever-continuing virgin. He strikes a perfect balance between geeky, awkward, and loveable (not unlike the film itself).

Equally as good is the supporting cast, the highlights of which are Seth Rogen (the lead in the upcoming KNOCKED UP) and the highly underrated Paul Rudd (why doesn't this guy get more recognition?). Adding even more clout to the superb casting is Catherine Keener, who plays Andy's love interest with just the right amount of edge.

Their relationship together is easily the most believable I've seen in a sex comedy. And it's not only theirs; all of the character relationships are handled impeccably. This is due in large part to everybody having an actual personality, and not just being a series of stock one-dimensional stereotypes written to do nothing other than get the script where it needs to go.

(As an example, think of what this movie would be like if, say, Catherine Keener's character had an asshole ex-boyfriend that wasn't feeling too pleased about "nice-guy" Andy getting with his girl.) You might see that bullshit in just about every other comedy getting made these days, but not here. My only complaint concerns the "Unrated" cut of the film, which unnecessarily lengthens an already long film.

The 17 extra minutes do contain a number of humorous gags, but it's at the cost of pacing. The original theatrical cut flows so much better, and it also avoids committing overkill with a number of the jokes. Had this 2-Disc Special Edition included both versions of the film, I would've demanded that you rushed out and bought it immediately.

As is, the movie's still a laugh-riot, but it feels like a step backwards from the near perfect original cut. As the trend goes for comedies recently, this 2-Disc Special Edition has been given a "funny" name - the "Double Your Pleasure" Edition. In terms of special features, everything from the original DVD release (minus the Theatrical Trailer) has been ported over to this one.

And seeing as how the previous version was already loaded with great extras, that just makes this one all the more definitive. It also comes complete with a FREE TICKET (up to $7.50) to see director Judd Apatow's next endeavor, KNOCKED UP (in theatres June 1, 2007).

The pass expires June 17, 2007, and is only valid in the U.S. Audio Commentary (with writer/director Judd Apatow and writer/actor Steve Carell): This is a great listen, featuring plenty of humorous banter and interesting tidbits.

Also joining the two main speakers are Seth Rogen (Cal), Paul Rudd (David), Romany Malco (Jay), Gerry Bednob (Mooj), Shelley Malil (Haziz), Jane Lynch (Paula), and Leslie Mann (Nicky). *Deleted Scenes (39:51 - with optional commentary): Some of these scenes appeared on the original release, but there are also 15 new ones (adding up to 24 in total). Unfortunately, the new scenes don't have commentary.

There also appears to be a scene missing from the original release (entitled "Drunk Driving Alternate Ending"), the reasons of which elude me. Whatever the case, many of these scenes are very entertaining, and are definitely worth your time. Also on Disc 1 is the red band (aka R-rated) Trailer for KNOCKED UP, as well as a bunch of other Previews.