10 Best Comedy Movie Characters Of The 21st Century

These days, it’s hard to imagine the world without Steve Carell. The actor had just had started his tenure on The Office (US) when ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ premiered and sent him straight to stardom. The movie also acted as a spring-board for director Judd Apatow, who also went on to have a very fruitful career off the back of it.

The film was a smash hit, winning ten awards and made nearly seven times its budget. Not bad going for a film that Universal nearly canned completely. The studio criticised Apatow’s work on the film as well as personal criticism towards Paul Rudd. Thankfully, the eventually saw sense and allowed filming to resume.

The character of Andy was based on one of Carell’s regular sketches at the Second City improv group. Despite being alone all his life, he enjoys the bachelor lifestyle and prefers to keep to himself. It’s only when he is invited to socialise more with his workmates that peer pressure makes him realise how unusual his life is.

Carell’s down to earth performance made Andy a character that audiences connected with.