I was reading the Sunday Trib and Sun-Times yesterday trying to figure out how 4 different critics placed “The 40-Year Old Virgin” in their top ten lists. I saw this movie on a tiny screen in a plane but I don’t think that’s why it didn’t work for me; it was just pretty lame. Yeah, kind of raunchy and funny on occasion, but hardly up there with the classic comedies of our time, and certainly not a top ten; or was it that bad of a year for films? I mostly stared at it wondering who really thought this was funny. I also saw “Wedding Crashers” on the flight and while it certainly isn’t a top ten movie either, I thought it was funnier. Sappy ending, of course, but Will Ferrell was hilarious.
Ebert put “Crash” at the top of his list, writing “Much of the world’s misery is caused by conflicts of race and religion.” Say no more, Roger. “The 40-Year Old Virgin” did not make his top ten.