Rude, crude and really funny

I laughed, I am almost ashamed to admit, sometimes heartily, at this tale of a nerd who can't lay his first woman at the age of 40. Ashamed, because it is resolutely vulgar, often gross and disgracefully non-PC. What makes it funny is the performance from Steve Carell as Andy, the virgin in question, and Judd Apatow, the director, who goes hell for leather with the icky humour.

Carell (David Brent in the American version of The Office) is much more amusing than the usual American comedy actors, such as Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller, and more sympathetic too, as he resists the tarts and nymphos placed in his way by his raucous salesmen friends.

"There's a code in every man's DNA that says pounce on drunk bitches," offers one of his helpful buddies. But it's something Andy just can't manage. Besides, he is saving himself for nice Trish (Catherine Keener).

Carell's performance elicits much laughter when he goes to a beautician and has the hairs on his chest painfully stripped; but even he can't do much about the scene where he attempts to pass water with an erection.

The film loses its way a bit before the end. But it is sufficiently creative in its character drawing to make you think that most of it is perfectly possible when men are among men.

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The 40 Year Old Virgin
Cert: cert15