Key players: Steve Carell, Judd Apatow, Catherine Keener, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd

Why it's great: The fact that it simultaneously announced Judd Apatow as a serious cinematic force to be reckoned with and Steve Carell as a real deal movie star would be enough to cement the reputation of "40-Year-Old Virgin." But it's also sweet, smart and hysterically funny, perfectly juggling innocence and raunch in a combination that never crosses the line into too nasty or too sappy. With a cast chock full of comedy MVPs (Rogen, Rudd, Romany Malco, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann, Elizabeth Banks, Kat Dennings, Jonah Hill, Mindy Kaling, David Koechner, Kevin Hart) and the inspired choice of Catherine Keener as Carell's love interest, "Virgin" remains a breath of fresh air in the increasingly snarky R rated comedy world.

- Geoff Berkshire