The 40 Year Old Virgin

In the summer of 2005, a quiet, middle-aged man rode his bicycle to work at an electronics store in Burbank, California, and changed the course of American comedy. Andy Stitzer, played by Steve Carell in his first major film lead, was a 40-year-old virgin, a fact that sparks the film's central conflict when his co-workers discover it during a poker game. What follows is a raunchy, surprisingly tender journey through the absurdities of male friendship, the pressures of sexual expectation, and the simple, radical idea that waiting for love might be the bravest choice of all.

Directed by Judd Apatow in his feature directorial debut, the film was a sleeper hit that grossed over $177 million worldwide on a $26 million budget. It launched Carell from his role on The Office into a full-fledged movie star, and established Apatow's signature blend of vulgar humor and genuine emotion. The chest-waxing scene, the karaoke performance of "Age of Aquarius," and the phrase "You know how I know you're gay?" became instant cultural touchstones.

More than just a comedy, the film challenged Hollywood's portrayal of male virginity. Andy isn't a loser or a creep, he's a kind, well-adjusted man who simply hasn't found the right person. His co-workers' frantic efforts to "fix" him become a critique of toxic masculinity, while his romance with Trish (Catherine Keener) offers a sweet counterpoint. The movie's success paved the way for a wave of "Apatovian" comedies that dominated the late 2000s, from Knocked Up to Superbad.[edit]

Andy Stitzer lives a quiet, orderly life in Los Angeles. At 40, he works as a senior employee at Smart Tech, an electronics superstore, where he stamps invoices and keeps to himself. His apartment is meticulously organized, filled with action figures still in their original packaging, vinyl records, and a collection of cooking shows he records on his DVR. He rides a vintage Schwinn bicycle to work and spends his evenings playing video games. There is nothing outwardly wrong with Andy's life, except for one secret he has guarded for four decades: he has never had sex.

That secret explodes into the open during a late-night poker game with his co-workers. Jay (Romany Malco), a loud, confident womanizer; David (Paul Rudd), a sensitive guy nursing a broken heart; and Cal (Seth Rogen), a perpetually stoned slacker, are stunned to learn the truth. Jay immediately appoints himself Andy's coach, declaring it their mission to get him laid. David offers reluctant, more thoughtful advice, while Cal provides mostly useless commentary. The trio drags Andy to a nightclub, where they force him to approach women with terrible pickup lines. They take him shopping for clothes that don't fit his personality. They sign him up for speed-dating, which ends in disaster.

Meanwhile, Andy meets Trish Piedmont (Catherine Keener) at a flea market where she sells handmade jewelry. Their connection is immediate and natural. They share a love of cooking, and their conversations flow easily. Trish is a smart, witty single mother with a teenage daughter, Marla (Kat Dennings), who rolls her eyes at the adults around her. For the first time, Andy feels a genuine romantic spark. But he has a problem: Trish assumes he is sexually experienced, and his friends insist he must keep up the lie. Jay, David, and Cal feed him increasingly elaborate fabrications about his past conquests, which Andy awkwardly repeats to Trish.

Andy's double life leads to a series of excruciating situations. He endures a brutal chest-waxing session, a scene filmed with real wax, causing Carell genuine pain across 12 takes. He gets drunk at a party and nearly ruins his chances with Trish. He goes on a date with a woman who wants to be spanked, which he handles with clueless politeness. Through it all, Andy's fundamental decency shines through. He is kind, gentle, and genuinely interested in Trish. But the pressure mounts. Jay pushes him to have sex with Trish as soon as possible, while David warns him about the dangers of rushing into a relationship for the wrong reasons. Andy is caught between his friends' agenda and his own desire for something real.

Trish's friends, the cynical Beth (Elizabeth Banks) and the free-spirited Nicky (Leslie Mann), also complicate things. They grill Andy about his intentions, and their skepticism adds to his anxiety. At work, Andy's boss Paula (Jane Lynch) provides deadpan comic relief, oblivious to the drama unfolding among her employees. As Andy and Trish grow closer, the inevitable moment approaches: they decide to have sex. Andy knows he must either confess the truth or continue the charade. The film builds toward a confrontation where his secret will either destroy everything or finally set him free.[edit]