# The 40-Year-Old Virgin is supposed to be a comedy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025 "2013-11-04T03:05:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/121 "2013-11-07T16:33:18Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > I was basically saying that **when big names come together for a movie it would be tough for a critic to negatively review it**. Also that there is a bias towards already-established actors. > > Obviously I have an understanding of how critics work, :dubious: No, I don’t think you do. Let’s see, “Last Vegas” stars Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro & Morgan Freeman. Some pretty big names, no? Guess it would be tough to negatively review that one. That’s why it scored 100% on RT. ([Oh, no wait I actually mean 43%, and just 24% from the top critics.](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_vegas_2013/)) OK, but “The Counselor” has \*got \*to be one of the best reviewed films of the year, right?! Directed by Ridley Scott, written by Cormac McCarthy and starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt, this movie is gonna get \*all \*the critical praise! Oh what was that? [37% from all critics and just 19% from the top critics](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_counselor_2013/)? Yup. It certainly is true that “when big names come together for a movie it would be tough for a critic to negatively review it.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/122 "2013-11-07T17:15:20Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > Obviously I have an understanding of how critics work, but some critics see it before the audience, some after. Also there is build up - if there is a lot of hype about a movie - well known actors, based on a book, remake, etc etc - the critic’s opinion might be biased. Also there might exist a bias based on the time period. For example the recent Super-Hero craze. A decade from now we will probably look back and think a grand majority of those Super-Hero movies were B quality at best. Dressed up nicely, of course, but of no real substance. What do you mean, “a decade from now?” ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/123 "2013-11-07T17:22:53Z")
The problem I see here, AnthonyElite, is that you are looking for some reason that the critics are “wrong” rather than just accepting they have a different opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/124 "2013-11-07T17:54:54Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > :dubious: No, I don’t think you do. > > Let’s see, “Last Vegas” stars Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro & Morgan Freeman. Some pretty big names, no? Guess it would be tough to negatively review that one. That’s why it scored 100% on RT. ([Oh, no wait I actually mean 43%, and just 24% from the top critics.](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_vegas_2013/)) > > OK, but “The Counselor” has \*got \*to be one of the best reviewed films of the year, right?! Directed by Ridley Scott, written by Cormac McCarthy and starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt, this movie is gonna get \*all \*the critical praise! Oh what was that? [37% from all critics and just 19% from the top critics](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_counselor_2013/)? > > Yup. It certainly is true that “when big names come together for a movie it would be tough for a critic to negatively review it.” Better yet, how established were the actors in 40 Year-Old Virgin? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/125 "2013-11-07T18:14:31Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Better yet, how established were the actors in 40 Year-Old Virgin? Not very. **Seth Rogen** had done Freaks & Geeks but it was 40YOV that helped him break into the A-List. **Jane Lynch** had done some Christopher Guest movies but hadn’t broken out yet. **Steve Carrell** had some exposure from Daily Show but “The Office” only debuted a few months before 40YOV was released (March/August) and wasn’t very well recieved with it’s six-episode first season. This movie is what propelled him to stardom and caused The Office to become a hit in season 2. \*\*Paul Rudd \*\*had been in quite a few starring roles in smaller films, like 200 Cigerettes, but was far from a household name. **Elizabeth Banks** was still unknown to most people, and would be for awhile after this. \*\*Leslie Mann \*\*had been in some starring roles when she was younger (_Cable Guy_ for example) but her star had definitely faded before this came out. Being Apatow’s wife has definitely helped her career, and this was the start of that. **Romany Malco** still isn’t a huge star but Weeds was just starting at the same time this movie came out. **Kat Dennings** was a nobody teen actress. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/126 "2013-11-07T18:59:02Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > **Jane Lynch** had done some Christopher Guest movies but hadn’t broken out yet. Kind of off topic, but: I suspect that the role that got a lot of attention for Lynch was her hilarious turn as the former porn star turned squeaky-clean folksinger in “A Mighty Wind.” “I was successful because I was willing to do things other porn stars wouldn’t do!” She also did a great turn in as a profane and streetwise parole head of an agency that placed male role models for children from broken families in “Role Models.” But I don’t know if a lot of people in Hollywood saw that film. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/127 "2013-11-07T21:55:00Z")
Role Models is a good movie and yeah she was good and funny in it. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/128 "2013-11-08T15:03:21Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > :dubious: No, I don’t think you do. > > Let’s see, “Last Vegas” stars Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro & Morgan Freeman. Some pretty big names, no? Guess it would be tough to negatively review that one. That’s why it scored 100% on RT. ([Oh, no wait I actually mean 43%, and just 24% from the top critics.](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_vegas_2013/)) > > OK, but “The Counselor” has \*got \*to be one of the best reviewed films of the year, right?! Directed by Ridley Scott, written by Cormac McCarthy and starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt, this movie is gonna get \*all \*the critical praise! Oh what was that? [37% from all critics and just 19% from the top critics](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_counselor_2013/)? > > Yup. It certainly is true that “when big names come together for a movie it would be tough for a critic to negatively review it.” > [@CarnalK](#): > > The problem I see here, AnthonyElite, is that you are looking for some reason that the critics are “wrong” rather than just accepting they have a different opinion. No really, I do get it. I’m not saying it always happens, just that there was a lot of hype to this one. And yes, I am trying to justify my opinnion a bit. No, I can’t explain why a movie that seemed like complete shit, and an actor that by all rights should be out of work and broke on the streets is successful. If I could, I would probably be saying he is funny, no? I DO accept that it is a matter of opinion and I don’t think people that disagree are WRONG. Give up on demonizing me for having a little fun, it won’t work. > [@Miller](#): > > What do you mean, “a decade from now?” I can’t…hmmm…is decade not a thing where you are? Roughly 10 years from now? I don’t know how else to break it down. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/129 "2013-11-08T16:28:27Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > No really, I do get it. I’m not saying it always happens, just that there was a lot of hype to this one. No, there wasn’t a lot of hype for **The 40-Year-Old Virgin**. It was a fairly low-budget comedy released in the middle of August starring the guy from a low-rated NBC sitcom and directed by a first-time feature director who only had a few failed TV series under his belt. It’s pretty much the definition of a surprise hit. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/130 "2013-11-08T17:43:47Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > I can’t…hmmm…is decade not a thing where you are? Roughly 10 years from now? I don’t know how else to break it down. Jesus. No, what I was saying is, why do you think we’d have to wait ten years to see that reaction? The implication being that people _already know_ these are, as you put it, “dressed up movies with no real substance.” Aside from some misguided attempts to bolt some political significance onto the last Batman movie, who is looking at the current crop of tights movies and calling them anything other than well-made spectacle and light amusement? ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/131 "2013-11-08T19:10:27Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I like Shakespeare and I like…whatever the opposite of Shakespeare would be. That would be me. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/132 "2013-11-08T20:26:03Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Jesus. > > No, what I was saying is, why do you think we’d have to wait ten years to see that reaction? The implication being that people _already know_ these are, as you put it, “dressed up movies with no real substance.” Aside from some misguided attempts to bolt some political significance onto the last Batman movie, who is looking at the current crop of tights movies and calling them anything other than well-made spectacle and light amusement? There is also some hype for Avengers Assemble, but I agree, it’s not a common thing. When reviewers give five stars to, say, Pacific Rim, all they mean is it’s excellent within its genre. And I can say why someone is a successful comedian without necessarily agreeing that they’re funny; other people find them funny. You can point to the jokes, surreal humour, and comical mannerisms even if they don’t appeal to you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/133 "2013-11-08T20:37:42Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > There is also some hype for Avengers Assemble, but I agree, it’s not a common thing. When reviewers give five stars to, say, Pacific Rim, all they mean is it’s excellent within its genre. I remember Roger Ebert addressed that a few times in his Q&A column. “Why did you give four stars to the high school prom romantic comedy but only two stars to the serious art house drama?” And he would explain that the one film was a very good high school prom romantic comedy why the other film was a mediocre art house drama. (In fact, here’s how he begins his review of The 40-Year-Old Virgin: “Here’s a movie that could have had the same title and been a crude sex comedy with contempt for its characters. Instead, ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ is surprisingly insightful, as buddy comedies go, and it has a good heart and a lovable hero.”) ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/134 "2013-11-08T22:26:48Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > I DO accept that it is a matter of opinion and I don’t think people that disagree are WRONG. Give up on demonizing me for having a little fun, it won’t work. I am not trying to demonize you but this “They must have bought into the hype” and “They must have been dazzled by the star power” is pretty blatant “Here’s how they went wrong”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/135 "2013-11-09T00:08:20Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I am not trying to demonize you but this “They must have bought into the hype” and “They must have been dazzled by the star power” is pretty blatant “Here’s how they went wrong”. But I am enjoying how every premise he has brought up is totally wrong. Now that’s comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025/136 "2013-11-09T02:56:15Z")
I loved The 40 Year Old Virgin. Steve Carrell stole the hell out of Bruce Almighty with just that one scene. The girlfriend went on to be nominated for an Oscar that same year for something else and the teen kid isn’t doing too bad in Two Broke Girls. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-40-year-old-virgin-is-supposed-to-be-a-comedy/673025.md?page=6)