Day 2 - (The) 40 Year Old Virgin

First Impressions:

More 'com' than 'rom', I was skeptical this fit the genre until the drunk driving Missy Elliott scene, and confirmed when Andy finally scares up the courage to call Trish.  Being an Apatow film, I was expecting a bro-com.  I enjoyed the pacing and the writing more than "13 Going On 30".  I love Catherine Keener.  I love her voice and her smile.  Entertaining cast.

Both "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "13 Going On 30" have main characters whose child-like innocence offer delightful contrast to the tedium and complexity of adult relationships.  Jenna and Andy truly enjoy who they are.  They avoid adult relationships; Jenna dumps her New York Ranger bf (which I interpreted as a mainly sexual relationship) at some point off-screen to re-ignite friendship with Matty.  Andy has his hobbies and also elects friendship over romance.


Personal Reflection:

"Of course it doesn't feel right.  What feels right hasn't worked.  It's time to try some wrong, dawg."

 One advantage to not-dating/celibacy is how much time you have to get shit done.  I mean, painting a miniature's pants blue then silver then blue again is a bit much and was done to underscore the pains of being a virgin.  Miniature-painting aside, Andy has time for video games, tuba, karaoke, crafting the perfect egg salad sandwich.  I wasn't quite sure if the audience was supposed to find this lame.  To me, this seemed a pursuit more worthwhile than the "numbers game" of planting as many seeds as possible and 'tackl[ing] drunk bitches' at a nightclub.

"The 40 Year Old Virgin" is about connection.  Ironically, sex connects Andy with his co-workers more than with Trish.  His co-workers focus on sexual connection over true intimacy.  Waiting 20 dates before sex is more surprising than Andy being a virgin.  Yes, he waits because he is a virgin, but it is Trish who suggests they wait!

I was surprised by the "You know how I know you're gay" bit.  The movie is from 2005.  I laughed at the punchline "You listen to Coldplay" - possibly an inappropriate response in 2017.

Boner Jams '03.

Rom-Com Tropes:

1. A happy ending is defined by the main characters getting married
2. Song and dance numbers.

 Soundtrack:

Rom-Coms have uplifting soundtracks full of familiar songs!  At least twice I found myself saying, "I forgot how much I like this song!"

1. Get Your Freak On, Hello, Heat of the Moment, I Ran So Far, Age of Aquarius

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