Who's In It?

Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Vinessa Shaw, and Paulo Costanzo

Who Made It?

Michael Lehmann

Where's The Web site?
40 Days And 40 Nights

In Ten Words or Less

"Raw but funny, I laughed out loud."

What's It About?

Matt (Hartnett) had the girlfriend of his dreams.  Nicole (Shaw) was everything Matt wanted in a woman and was Matt’s world.  Then one day it happened, she broke up with him.  In an instant Matt was crushed.  His world as he knew it collapsed around him on the very day that Nicole no longer wanted him.  Oh he tried to forget her, with so many different women, but he could never get away from his nightmares.  Until one day…Matt vowed to abstain from sex for 40 days and 40 nights.

Now Matt didn’t only give up sex, but also touching, kissing, and so much more.  Matt was eliminating the physicality from his life.  He feels that if his brother (studying to become a priest) can do it, so can he.  Ah, but the road is filled with many potholes as it isn’t going to be easy to abstain from something he enjoys so much.  Matt doesn’t want to tell any of his friends what is going on, they wouldn’t understand what he is going through.  After Matt reluctantly tells one of his friend it is only a matter of time until the world knows.  And then the quest really begins.  40 Days and 40 Nights is a long time to do anything, and when Matt meets a girl he takes a liking too, it is as if this is a quest that will take months and months.  Will Matt finish the vow?  Will he get the girl?  There are too many questions to be answered, but we all will be revealed during these 40 Days and 40 Nights.

Common Guy's Thoughts

Josh Hartnett is hot right now, and this is a nice change of pace coming off of Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down.  Hartnett takes the lead in this raucous comedy that has the potential for going down the dangerous road that gobbles up bad comedies each and every year.  Thankfully, it comes out smelling quite rosy when dealing with such questionable material.  Hartnett is able to display the range of emotions that is necessary to carry off this role in this sexually charged comedy in a way that we haven’t seen recently.  He is able to pull together a good story and keep it moving swiftly.

The real star of the film, however, is the story.  They take a common theme of “giving something up for lent” and use it for individuals to find themselves.  As I mentioned earlier, it is so easy for the sexual comedies to turn into a literal sewer before your very eyes, but in this film they are able to go to the next level with some clever humor.  This film has a scene for Josh Harnett that rivals Meg Ryan’s scene stealing lunchtime incident if only in sheer humor.  (I don’t want to give much away on that, so you’ll have to see the film to get it).  Bottom line is that this is a fun film.

Don’t expect to see filmmaking genius when the lights go down in the theater, but do expect to laugh.  Hartnett and the young supporting cast have been able to deliver a fun, laugh-filled film that will take you away from your everyday life, if only for a little while.  The film doesn’t last 40 days, but the laughs will stay with you long after you leave the theater.

Grade

B

Parents Guide

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.  Kids will want to see this film, as it comes off as a teen comedy.  But it isn’t for the youngest kids in your group.  The content is filled with sexual innuendo at every turn and will constantly be in your face throughout.  Some of the sexual situations will cause parents to cringe if their kids see this movie.  And of course there is nudity, including a scene where there are more breasts than I think have ever been onscreen at once.  This is something that is an adult film, and that is one thing I know.
 

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