Friday *

We recently saw Judd Apatow's movie Knocked Up,* leading to the admission* that I'd never bothered to see his other movie, the 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005).* Why? Because the previews indicated it was just another movie of the type I'm disinterested in: situational skit comedy evolved around the fulcrum of stereotype versus stereotype in the easy arena of socially protected sexual prejudice. Well, the movie in question is popular, and in due course we were invited by friends to watch it on DVD over delivery pizza and margaritas. I can't say I was altogether incorrect in my knee-jerk prejudices about the 40 Year-Old Virgin, though I'm glad I saw it. Why? It was very funny. The plot revolves around Andy, who, attempting to foster greater connection with workmates, begrudgingly admits to retaining his virginity. This introduces not only the stereotypical skit-like lowbrow social study I find annoying, but also the particular comic wit of Judd Apatow who can always find the vein while mining the rascally intercourse of man-children who presume no one is looking. From these humble beginnings the movie fits squarely into expectation along its broad strokes: Andy's capitulation as his buddies hijack his future love life ebbs and flows while he virtually trips over women who find themselves grooving to his quality inner person. It's revealed that Andy's lack of experience is symptomatic of an overall postponement of maturity (regrettably symbolized by the care he takes with his toy collection). Around these lesser qualities the movie is genuinely sweet, and tries to plumb real humanity from the usual handful of Apatow types. But while bending over backward to dignify and sweeten the impulses that drive its male cast, the film offers uneven shrift to the motivations of the women drawn to Andy's type of harmlessness. [Cavin]