The Final Cut: A Closer Look At Red Eye, The 40 Year Old Virgin

Posted by Devin Categories: Features, Movies

This week, The Final Cut takes a closer look at two of this weekends great releases- Red Eye, with Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy, and The 40 Year Old Virgin with Steve Carell and Catherine Keener.  Also out this Friday are Valiant, an animated film about a pigeon set during World War II, and Supercross, a story about two brothers who take a motocross championship by storm after the death of their father.  Check out The Final Cut’s recommendations after the jump, and as always, if you’ve seen one of this weekends releases feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section.

Red Eye

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox

Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) hates to fly, but the terror that awaits her on the night flight to Miami has nothing to do with a fear of flying. Moments after takeoff, Lisa’s seatmate, Jackson (Cillian Murphy), menacingly reveals the real reason he’s on board: He is an operative in a plot to kill a rich and powerful businessman…and Lisa is the key to its success. If she refuses to cooperate, her own father will be killed by an assassin awaiting a call from Jackson. Trapped within the confines of a jet at 30,000 feet, Lisa has nowhere to run and no way to summon help without endangering her father, her fellow passengers and her own life. As the miles tick by, Lisa knows she is running out of time as she desperately looks for a way to thwart her ruthless captor and stop a terrible murder.

Red Eye is the latest film from director Wes Craven and this thriller has everything it needs to be a great popcorn movie.  It seems a few people who have seen the film believed that the whole conspiracy theory was too over the top, but most agree that the movie is well thought out with a great script coming from Carl Ellsworth.  While most of the film takes place on the plane, it’s only until we’re on the ground that the real action happens.  The movie is suspenseful, and will likely have you on the edge of your seat biting your nails.  Craven does an excellent job with this story, proving that while he’s great with horror films, he can do suspense just as well, so when you visit your local theater this weekend, take a trip on the Red Eye.

The 40 Year Old Virgin

Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco

40-year-old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) has done quite a few things in his life. He’s got a cushy job stamping invoices at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of action figures and comic books, good friends, a nice attitude. But there’s just one little thing he hasn’t quite gotten around to doing yet—something most people have done by his age. Andy has never, ever, ever had sex—not even by accident. Andy’s buds at the store go to great lengths to help him, but nothing proves effective enough to lure their friend out of lifelong chastity—until he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a 40-year-old mother of three. Andy’s friends are psyched by the possibility that “it” may finally happen…until they hear that Andy and Trish have begun their relationship based on a mutual no-sex policy.

If you feel the need to laugh come Friday, you NEED to see this movie.  I must say that when I first saw the previews to this comedy, I immediately imagined how, even though it looked so funny, I would end up reading negative reviews one after the other, but I’m happy to say that that isn’t the case for this film.  The humor in it might not be for everyone, but if you liked Animal House, Porkie’s, or American Pie, this movie will definitely tickle your funny bone.  Joshua Tyler from CinemaBlend.com says its, “one of the funniest movies ever made”.  While I can’t back him up on that claim yet, I will say that if comedy is what you are looking for this weekend, make a date with The 40 Year Old Virgin.