matt-thornton.net

about

You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.

You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.

40 year old virgin

the one line review:

so much better than i was expecting

the overview

I rented this because it's the type of thing the missus likes to watch. I wasn't holding my breath, expecting some tooty-fruity "she's all that" crap about some sad bloke who can't get laid and a bunch of blokes have a bet to see who can get him laid, full of slapstick nonsense. Guff.

OK, so actually it is about some sad bloke who can't get laid, and it does have a bunch of blokes trying to get him laid, and it is full of slapstick nonsense... but it's done really well.

the plot:

Andy (Carrell) is, as the title suggests, the 40 year old virgin. By all accounts he a very nice boy, who has basically never grown up. When he starts drinking with his buddies from work, the truth gets revealed, and the blokes there all take it upon themselves to help him out. It's more of a lesson on how to pull women, interspersed with a bunch of stupid goings-on which are genuinely funny.

the verdict:

So completely predictable, in the US teen comedy scary movie-esque genre. Lots of willy jokes, lots of sex references, some breasts and a lot of swearing. But it's not dull like all the other films of this genre are. Yes it has a happy ending, and yes, all the typical blokes who previously were all about getting on some ass start to see the error of their ways and blah blah (one reason why this only got 4 bums, the other not being entirely convinced with Carrell as the lead, and the final reason was it being about 20 minutes too long) but otherwise it's a funny and very enjoyable film.

There is a lot going on. The main storyline is with Andy and his quest for some cheeky cheeky, but amongst that you have the other three main characters (including Paul Rudd, aka Mike from Friends), well, being stupid (and dealing with their own failing love lives). The film is full of the jokes that everyone thinks but are too scared to say. And has a lot of swearing. It's funny as fuck. Ahem.

Don't expect too much from this film, but it's a really nice feel good'er, with plenty of laughs to keep you from waxing your armpits and writing poetry.