Steve Carell cracked me to pieces in a smaller role in Will Ferrell's "Anchorman," so I keep expecting great things from him (I also remember him pleasantly from "The Daily Show"). But his performance in "Bewitched" fell flat. And now, in the first half of "Virgin," his efforts fail to even crack a smile on my face. But that first half fails on many more levels. No one is funny, though many try. The production and acting feel empty, out of the groove. Further, there is very little redeeming value for a great deal of tolerating unclever, unoriginal jokes on sex.

Fortunately, the film picks up midway when it leaves behind virgin jokes that would have been just as useable (or not) were they in a movie about an 20-year-old virgin or a 30-year-old virgin. Finally, the main character begins a relationship with a real woman and his predicament comes into some semblance of real importance, thus giving the film some substance. Now we care. And from that point on, the jokes seem to get slightly more clever, the timing and fluidity pick up until the picture climaxes (if you'll excuse the expression) with a surprising freshness. I'd even venture to say, that this is a more satisfying film ending as of late (given the duds of "War of the Worlds" and "Fantastic Four").

Still, a full first half of flatline plus a second half on the upswing only add up to B-.

This film screened a Yelm Cinemas.