The Nazz
21-08-2005, 23:22
I wasn't expecting much from this film, even though the reviews have been raves. The reviewers were right--this is a hysterically funny film that could have gone horribly wrong in any number of places, and yet never does.
Here's the reason why, I think, it never goes wrong. The writers seem to have looked for every cliche that this type of adult comedy generally falls into, and then turned it on its head, made it a plus instead of a minus. They depend on the notion that the audience will see a joke coming, and then surprise the audience by going in a completely different direction. And most importantly, they don't let Steve Carell's character, the virgin, just be hapless--he's a guy who, while he's got serious issues, still takes control of his situation, rather than just allowing himself to be buffeted by the actions of others. That's a major change from most films of this genre.
I've never been a big fan of Carell, but I've only seen him on The Daily Show before this, so maybe it's a case of me needing a larger dose of him to enjoy what he does. He certainly owns this role, and his supporting cast does terrific work as well. Paul Rudd, who's one of those guys who looks familiar and you know you've seen him in other films but can't remember where (IMDB is my friend for such occasions--he was Paris in Luhrmann's "Romeo+Juliet"), does an outstanding job as one of Carell's friends, a guy who's hung up on an old girlfriend, complete with the self-destructive behavior and the unending belief in the beauty of love. Jane Lynch (of "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind") has a great bit part as Carell's boss, who offers to "take care of his virgin problem" and attempts to seduce him with what she thinks is a Guatemelan love song--I won't spoil the joke for you. And the ending, which you think is careening off into sappy, typical, romantic comedy-land, is one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in filmdom.
In short, I can't recommend this movie highly enough. It is brilliant.
Here's the reason why, I think, it never goes wrong. The writers seem to have looked for every cliche that this type of adult comedy generally falls into, and then turned it on its head, made it a plus instead of a minus. They depend on the notion that the audience will see a joke coming, and then surprise the audience by going in a completely different direction. And most importantly, they don't let Steve Carell's character, the virgin, just be hapless--he's a guy who, while he's got serious issues, still takes control of his situation, rather than just allowing himself to be buffeted by the actions of others. That's a major change from most films of this genre.
I've never been a big fan of Carell, but I've only seen him on The Daily Show before this, so maybe it's a case of me needing a larger dose of him to enjoy what he does. He certainly owns this role, and his supporting cast does terrific work as well. Paul Rudd, who's one of those guys who looks familiar and you know you've seen him in other films but can't remember where (IMDB is my friend for such occasions--he was Paris in Luhrmann's "Romeo+Juliet"), does an outstanding job as one of Carell's friends, a guy who's hung up on an old girlfriend, complete with the self-destructive behavior and the unending belief in the beauty of love. Jane Lynch (of "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind") has a great bit part as Carell's boss, who offers to "take care of his virgin problem" and attempts to seduce him with what she thinks is a Guatemelan love song--I won't spoil the joke for you. And the ending, which you think is careening off into sappy, typical, romantic comedy-land, is one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in filmdom.
In short, I can't recommend this movie highly enough. It is brilliant.