Abbott & Costello Collection DVD: Review By Dodd

The comedy genre has worked magic in 2005. For a while, there was a boring trend of unfunny comedies. Why? Because they did not reach beyond a PG-13 rating. This does not mean that PG-13 movies are incapable of being funny. However, a limitation on profanity and adult content will sometimes water down a good joke. This year, Hollywood decided to be bold and unleash two comedies that dared to be raunchy. While The Wedding Crashers made big bucks in the middle of the summer, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin punctuated the summer with rave reviews and high grosses.

The title of the film pretty much speaks for itself. It is the story of an older man that never quite had the opportunity to experience loving to the fullest degree. The man is Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell), a stereo salesman with a passion for collecting action figures. When Andy decides to leave his dork-pad and socialize with some guys from work (played to comedic perfection by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogan, and Romany Malco), they find out his embarrassing little secret. Filled with macho pride, the boys make it their personal mission to not only deflower Andy, but also make him an experienced sex machine.

Unlike his co-workers, Andy is a timid man in no hurry to make the big jump. Despite two awkward opportunities to get down with an alcoholic bimbo (Leslie Mann) and a nympho maniac (Elizabeth Banks), Andy is still a kind-hearted man of 40 that is not interested in meaningless sex, but finding a life partner. He finds himself most interested in Trish (Catherine Keener), a sweet-mannered single mother that runs a Sell-It-On-Ebay store.

The 40-Year-Old-Virgin is a sex comedy in all its glory. It is chock full of condom jokes, porn star references, and graphic sexual anecdotes. So what sets it apart from the rest of the raucous, unfunny sex comedies of recent years? This movie actually has a large serving of heart. Judd Apatow (Freaks and Greeks) directed and co-wrote the film with Steve Carell, and the comedy is written with wit and tact. Despite crucial characters being one-night-stand-loving horn dogs, the movie is never misogynistic.

Even though a written-script apparently exists, it is obvious that the real talent comes from the cast and their improv talents. Carell and Keener are both hilarious and charming as the two principle characters that find love with one another. However, the real laughs come from the supporting team. This includes a scene-stealing Paul Rudd, Apatow regular Seth Rogan, and Christopher Guest staple Jane Lynch as Andy's boss that is interested in more than this salesmanship. These actors come off naturally which makes the comedy even better. Watching scenes such as Rudd and Rogan going on for minutes with homophobic reasons for why the other man is gay is absolutely priceless. It is moments like this that made me laugh hysterically and reflect on similar unscripted exchanges in my lifetime.

This comedy is fantastic, but I do have one unfortunate complaint. The version I reviewed is the unrated edition. Generally these include one extra minute of footage that can be missed in the blink of an eye. However, this cut has 17 additional minutes and they are very prominent to those that saw the original cut. While some jokes deserve the screen time, others are simply extensions that make certain scenes go on just a tad too long. If this DVD also contained the original R version, I would be a happy man.

The DVD contains a great assortment of extras destined to provide some laughs.

Most of the extras consist of deleted and extended scenes. "Cal and Paula" and "You Know How I Know You're Gay" are particularly fun to watch after seeing the movie. It appears that the cast members improvised these segments for minutes on end, and Apatow just cut the best from the reel and stuck it in the film. Some of the jokes these actors come up with are absolutely priceless.

The film also includes a running commentary track from almost everyone in the film. This includes Carell, Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch, and director Apatow. The track has its moments, but this is an extremely loaded viewing session. I was a little disappointed to not hear much from Carell. Perhaps he is as timid in real life as his creation, Andy.

There are no elaborate making-of featurettes, but there is a piece on the painful chest-waxing scene with Steve Carell. This is great for some insight into how far a man will go for comedy.

The rest of the features are so-so. There is a selection of different lines from the cast. There are also some deleted scenes. Some of these should have been included in the unrated cut as opposed to some of the lame scenes decided on. There is also a bizarre conversation piece with Seth Rogan and porn star Stormy Daniels. I suppose a sex comedy DVD isn't complete without a porn actress getting involved.

The picture is in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1 aspect ratio). The direction probably isn't the most stunning thing about this comedy. Apatow does not reveal himself to be the next big auteur. However, he is good at filming funny people saying funny things, and that is all that matters here.

5.1 Dolby Surround, English. This is not an extravagant surround experience worth telling friends about. However, I really dig the soundtrack that includes Lionel Richie and the theme song from Greatest American Hero.

Standard DVD keep case. The front cover contains the original theatrical poster art, which is hands down the funniest picture in years. Carell is pictured smiling with sexual wonderment in his eyes, and inexperience in his smile.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is the funniest picture I have seen this year and I think a lot of movie buffs would be satisfied with the blind purchase. It is a balanced dose of perverted humor and romantic comedy that will have you in stitches.

My Recommendation: It is not often that comedies make me laugh, so do not let this one go by unnoticed.

Questions? Comments? Just want to talk movies? Drop me a line at dodd@movieweb.com