Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5
The 40-Year-Old Virgin DVD (2005)

After standout supporting roles in films like Bruce Almighty and Anchorman, Steve Carell took the lead in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. It鈥檚 a "risqu茅 yet surprisingly warm-hearted" comedy by writer/director Judd Apatow that eschews the gross-out gags of American Pie to tell the story of a sexual misfit. It scored highly with critics and moviegoers, eventually taking over $108m worldwide.

Wax On, Whacks Off

Since he鈥檚 the star of the movie, it鈥檚 surprising that Steve Carell isn鈥檛 given more talk time on this DVD. A featurette that goes behind-the-scenes on that chest-waxing stunt provides the only opportunity for reflection and even then, he hardly gets to the root of the matter. "How hard could it be?" he asks with trademark innocence. Cue the screaming.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin DVD

Actor/writer Seth Rogen gives porn star Stormy Daniels an exhaustive audition in a (presumably) spoof featurette, otherwise discarded footage from the film provides the bulk of this extras package. Among six deleted scenes Andy (Carell) is arrested for drunk driving, gets high on marijuana and sings a fabulous rendition of The First Time from Zorba the musical. Meanwhile Rogen and Apatow give optional commentary, which includes the shocking revelation that actor Romany Malco (Jay) lost his virginity at six-years-old! "Romany claims it was not molestation," says Apatow, "It was real six-year-old sex!"

Loose Lips

Improvisation obviously played a big part in the making of the film with dozens of alternate takes and one-liners crammed into six hilarious reels of footage. Sadly, most of what鈥檚 said here can鈥檛 be repeated due to 大象传媒 guidelines on taste and decency and - during one of Andy鈥檚 excised fantasies - even Apatow admits, "This made me uncomfortable..." Elsewhere there鈥檚 a 10-minute warning on what not to say whilst speed dating and an Easter egg hidden by Andy鈥檚 "man-o-lantern" chest features an awkward conversation between Andy and Cal (Rogen) on, um "whacking it".

Finally, a gag reel betrays Carell鈥檚 cool exterior as his fellow actors dispense wildly inappropriate sex advice. Although there鈥檚 precious little information on the making of the film, all this extra footage guarantees hours of fun for those lonely nights...

EXTRA FEATURES

  • Six deleted scenes with optional commentary by writer/director Judd Apatow and producer/writer/actor Seth Rogen
  • Six reels of alternate takes with optional commentary
  • Waxing Doc featurette
  • My Dinner With Stormy featurette
  • Gag reel
  • Easter egg - Whack It
  • Trailers
  • Technical Information

    REGION SOUND MENUS RATIO
    2 Dolby Digital 5.1 Animated, with music 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
    CHAPTERS SUBTITLES AUDIO TRACKS
    21 English English
    CAPTIONS EXTRAS SUBTITLES CERTIFICATE
    English The special features are subtitled. 15

    End Credits

    Director: Judd Apatow

    Writer: Judd Apatow, Steve Carell

    Stars: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch

    Genre: Comedy

    Length: 127 minutes

    Cinema: 02 September 2005

    DVD: 05 December 2005

    Country: USA