Judd Apatow would have second thoughts on jokes used in The 40-Year-Old Virgin if he made it today

Judd Apatow has admitted that he would ‘think through’ one particular joke he made in The 40-Year-Old Virgin if he was to make the movie today. 

As the title probably explains, the movie centres on 40-year-old virgin Andy (played by Steve Carell) whose co-workers and pals David (Paul Rudd) and Cal (Seth Rogen) become determined to help him finally have sex. 

The flick was released in 2005 and was a huge hit with audience, however, times have changed since then and creator Apatow has admitted that he would ‘think through’ one scene if he was making the movie for today’s audiences. You can see the scene and his thoughts on it here:

Appearing on CNN’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace, Wallace suggested that some of the language and jokes used by Apatow back in the early to mid 2000s might not be so funny to people these days. 

He then shared a scene from the movie, in which Rogen and Rudd are sat playing video games while telling each how they ‘know’ the other gay using bizarre examples including liking the Jennifer Lopez flick Maid in Manhattan and making a spinach dip. 

After sharing the clip, Wallace said he remembers watching it in the movie and thinking the joke was ‘hilarious’ but then asked if Apatow would still make that scene today. 

Apatow replied: “It’s a good question. I would probably think about it and try to get a sense from people around me and ask them how they felt. 

“At the time, the intention was to show real immature men that should know better. It's really more about them than what they are saying.”

Paramount Pictures

He went on to say that things have changed, and writers need to think about how their jokes affect people. 

He continued: “Culture has changed where part of the audience is saying, ‘we don’t want to be goofed on in any way’ but then another part of the audience would say, ‘everyone should get goofed on’ [and] that it’s part of what our lives are about. 

"I try to just lead with my heart. I really feel like you can do anything, you can say anything if your heart is in the right place - you just need to take a little time now to really think through your jokes and how they affect people.”

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Topics: Film and TV

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.