Screenplay of the Week: The 40-Year Old Virgin

Written by Judd Apatow and Steve Carell

http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/40_year_old_virgin.pdf

With thoughts of “Pineapple Express” coming soon, I thought it appropriate to go over one of the first monster hits from the Apatow machine. The “40-Year Old Virgin” worked as an introduction to how humor would be played out in years to come. It is a formula that Apatow and associates have been following since this film. While not a bad formula, this movie looks more derivative in hindsight then it did at first glance.

Upon first viewing I really liked the movie. I thought that the main characters (specifically Andy and Trish) were well developed and the audience could and would feel for both parties. A virgin and a single mom are two characters that just ask for the sympathy of the crowd. The writers managed to wind these two characters together in a very believable manner and never strayed from the focus on the values of each character. Andy’s tragic flaw of being a virgin is also a strong point for how the story was written. Coming in to the movie, everyone knew the premise of the movie. They all knew what to expect in the form of a couple jokes. What almost no one could predict was that the virgin aspect was never really put on a shelf and made to look at. This virgin-ness was simply a feature to this deeper character. I truly believe that this movie would have still worked whether Andy was a virgin or not. Only a few times did jokes stem directly from this fact. Andy could just have easily been a simple, kind, caring dork that had lost his virginity earlier in life. This helps add a layer to the entire film (something that “Pineapple Express” struggled with, but more on this tomorrow…). Thankfully the writers stayed away from many easy jokes and actually tried harder on the other parts of the characters to develop humor.

Where most of the Apatow films score really strongly are the side characters. Most of the off the cuff jokes and, as a result, the biggest laughs come from the smaller characters. “Virgin” sets the stage for the characters to come in future films. Andy’s co-workers at the electronic store provide a good mix of serious moments and comic relief. These characters allow Andy and Trish to have a more serious, meaningful relationship without worrying about constant laughs. Add in the various odd balls we meet on the journey to sex and Andy never actually needs to be funny (thankfully he is due to the perfect role for Carell, see his next few movies, not the same…). For an example of Apatow characters going wrong, just look at another of his hits, “Knocked Up”. Loved the movie, loved the side characters, but as a writer and notice that the side characters in this film are seriously side characters simply along for the ride to provide comic relief. Get rid of these characters and the story would go on.

“Virgin” loses a few points for winding down and becoming quite a formulaic screenplay. After watching more and more Apatows, it is clear that the formula exists. Just throw a normal guy into a problematic situation, give them a strong supporting comedy cast, sprinkle in a small amount of touching moments, stick to easily followed and expected main story lines and you’ve got yourself a hit!

I really did enjoy this film and its screenplay. It is arguably the Apatows greatest hit up to this point. Hard to argue the writing and the jokes are clever and original. This was the turning point in many careers with Apatow, Rogen, Carell to name a few. Simply because other films are borrowing the formula should not take away from the enjoyment of a good screenplay.

Please click the link above to read the full copy.

-GR McBride