Gallery 1988 has just opened a new art show in tribute to the work of Judd Apatow. Judd Apatow means The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin means toys.
That image, for instance, is by Blain Hefner. Here are several more:
Collider has lots of shots from the show's opening last night, and Gallery 1988 has prints available for sale here. There's a lot more funny stuff (the "Pussy on a Pedestal" one is particularly great), but these were the ones that directly referenced toys.
You know, I've considered writing a blog post or a PoA about 40-Year-Old Virgin, but it had been out for so long by the time that I finally saw it, it seemed kind of pointless. But this seems like a good opportunity.
Yeah, the movie is good. It's funny, heartwarming, and well-acted. But the moral of the story is "if you collect toys and comics, you'll never get laid." We know that's not true, but that's what the movie says. In order to even date the girl, he has to hide his toys away - to be in a relationship, he has to sell them all. He's not allowed to keep the hobbies that he's had for decades, and the movie treats that like some bright, happy moment in his personal growth. It's almost as anti-geek as Big Bang Theory...
I use to like The 40-Year-Old Virgin. It still has its moments, but they clearly rest on the shoulders of one Steve Carell. Seven years later it has been somewhat diluted by the overload of Judd "I'm-So-Indie-Cuz-I-Did-Freaks-&-Geeks" Apatow flicks. I thought it was pretty sweet, but I never liked the overall message. Plus it gave everyone with old Mego or GI Joe figures that saw it an idea they could get rich off their old toys.
Also, The Big Bang Theory, anti-geek? How so?
How isn't it? this article sums it up pretty well; but in short, the show expects its audience to laugh AT the characters because they're nerds, not laugh WITH them about nerdy things. It's a geek minstrel show, making us the butt of the jokes while still expecting us to love it because it's "about" us...
That is a very good articulation (no pun intended) of exactly why I can't stand that show either. It's always surprised me how popular it's been despite how condescending it clearly is.