Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell, “The Office” & Despicable Me Franchise) has gone 40 years without “doing it.” Now his pals are making it their mission to help him score…fast! Can he survive their hilariously bad advice? Will he land in the arms of the way-too-experienced or the way-too-drunk? Or can he find true love where he least expects – from a gorgeous grandmother (Catherine Keener, Being John Malkovich & Get Out)? Co-starring Paul Rudd (Ant-Man & I Love you, Man), Seth Rogen (“The Studio” & This is the End), Jane Lynch (“Only Murders in the Building” & “Glee”), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games Franchise & Pitch Perfect Series) and Leslie Mann (Knocked Up & This is 40), THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN is director Judd Apatow’s feature film debut.

For thoughts on The 40-Year-Old Virgin, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment presents both the theatrical cut and unrated cut of The 40-Year-Old Virgin with a lovely new 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision/HDR. The film was first released by Universal on Blu-Ray in 2008, and that is the Blu-Ray disc that is included in this package. That older release has been rightfully criticized for being overly processed and one of the worst-looking newer Hollywood productions on the format. This new presentation may not be considered a traditionally demo-worthy affair, but it is miles ahead of anything that has come before, and it allows the film to finally have a quality presentation at home.

While the previous transfer was sunk by smoothing over fine detail, subtle textures are on full display thanks to the retention of the natural film grain. The grain resolves favorably with nothing ever feeling overly noisy or splotchy. The image does not contain even the smallest signs of damage thanks to the remastering of the image. The facets on display in the outfits and within the production design are like a breath of fresh air after the previous eyesore. This presentation is accurate to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more organic and authentic to the world. The image is somewhat softer on average than you might expect, but it appears to be healthy. There are no serious digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such issues.

The utilization of Dolby Vision/HDR for precise color output elevates things to truly sterling levels with its depth and nuance. Every hue radiates off the screen with a notable prominence from bold patterns in certain outfits to distinct lighting within nightclubs. Highlights are tight with no evidence of blooming in the bright skies. Black levels are solid with nothing in the way of crush or banding present even in the dark corners of the club. Fans can now observe more from the shadow detail with outlines properly represented instead of blending into the background. This disc handles every location switch-up with ease. This presentation rescues a beloved film from a true travesty of a presentation. Universal has our admiration for releasing this one.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a Dolby Atmos track that brings new life to the film. It would have been nice if the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track could have been included, but the Atmos track tastefully expands the soundscape. The script is the star of the show, and every exchange of dialogue comes through impeccably clear. It coalesces well with the memorable soundtrack so nothing gets drowned out and every note maintains respectable fidelity. The height channels do not pull focus, but they make certain songs and environments feel more immersive thanks to the overhead activity. There do not seem to be any unexpected instances of age-related shortcomings. These tracks provide a listening experience that authentically captures the artistic intent of this talky narrative. Universal has delivered what is necessary for an optimal listening experience. Optional English SDH, Spanish, French, and an array of other subtitles are provided.

Special Features

4K UHD

Audio Commentary: Director/Co-writer Judd Apatow and actors Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch, Shelley Malil, and Gerry Bednob

20th Anniversary Discussion: A new 49-minute panel with director/co-writer Judd Apatow and actors Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Kat Dennings, Jane Lynch, Shelley Malil, and Gerry Bednob. There are great reflections on how the idea was developed, how the performers came to the project, memorable moments on the set, and more.

Blu-Ray

Audio Commentary: Director/Co-writer Judd Apatow and actors Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch, Shelley Malil, and Gerry Bednob

Deleted Scenes: There are 16 unused scenes totaling nearly 28 minutes provided with optional audio commentary with Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen. There are also additional supplements that are basically deleted scenes or alternate jokes that fall under the same banner which you can find below with optional commentary.

- The First Time (5:02)

- Tales from the Stock Room (5:29)

- “You Know How I Know You’re Gay?” (5:31)

- Date-A-Palooza (9:18)

- Line-O-Rama (6:20)

Gag Reel (4:35)

Judd’s Video Diaries: A 21-minute video diary that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film.

Waxing Doc: A nearly four-minute look at the filming of the waxing scene.

My Dinner with Stormy: A two-minute meeting between Seth Rogen and Stormy Daniels.

Raw Footage (19:23)

Poker Game Rehearsal (5:12)

Auditions

- Jonah Hill (0:47)

- Elizabeth Banks (0:37)

- Romany Malco (1:14)

- Shelley Malil (0:49)

- Jane Lynch (1:30)

- Gerry Bednob (1:01)

- Jazzmun (1:31)

Comedy Central Reel Comedy Roundtable: A 21-minute television special that previews the film with fun conversations from the cast members.

Cinemax Final Cut – The 40-Year-Old Virgin: A 13-minute television special that previews the film with fun conversations from the cast members.

1970s Sex Ed Film: A nearly six-minute facsimile of a 1970s sex ed film is provided.

Theatrical Trailer (2:33)

Final Thoughts

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a pivotal feature that ushered in the Judd Apatow era of comedy. There may be films that we have a deeper connection with from his output, but this has one of the best balances of sentimentality and crude, uproarious humor. There are some lines and moments that have not aged the best, but it is a film that still makes us laugh like crazy while delivering some genuine emotion. We miss when there was a steady stable of character-driven studio comedies coming out theatrically, so it is nice to revisit this time and still double over with laughter. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts an amazing A/V presentation and an excellent assortment of supplemental features. Recommended

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack in a Standard Edition or in a SteelBook Edition.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.