The 40-Year-Old Virgin

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

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

Director: Judd Apatow

The film: Ex-Second City comedy team member Steve Carell gets his big break, developing one of his characters into a full-blown feature. And full credit to first-time director Judd Apatow, who makes a seamless transition from some of TV's best satire in recent years (The Larry Sanders Show).

What could have been a trite exercise is lifted above the ordinary as Apatow makes the most of the talents at his disposal, allowing Carell, and the superb Catherine Keener, to add depth to their characters, rather than just take us from one gag to another.

Carell's character is nearing the middle of his life, stuck in a world of action-man dolls, video games and his job at a local electronics store. It's also a life that, as the title explains, has never been touched by sex. And once his workmates discover his secret, they vow to put things right.

In lesser hands, this all might have degenerated into a frat-house romp along the lines of American Pie. But such is Carell's naturalistic, low-key performance that you actually feel for the guy. That's not to say the film doesn't tread the borders of decency, but even the more gross aspects seem to fit.