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40 Days and 40 Nights [DVD] [2002] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] starring: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo, Adam Trese, Emmanuelle Vaugier

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Average rating -

Rating: - Funny and well thought out comedy

After breaking up with his long term girlfriend Matt (Hartnett) vows to go without sex for lent in order to progress emotionally.

The romantic genre has gone through numerous concepts over the years. From the sentimental friendship romance in Lost in Translation to the utterly crude but funny American Pie there are numerous ideologies thrown around and as is modern culture, a film is made depicting the terms and regulations teenagers seem to live by in relationships.

Just Friends, Angus Thongs and perfect snogging and Donkey Punch to name but a few that all depict different ideas, from the friendship zone to growing up.

This Michael Lehmann picture looks at the use of sex as a resolution to overcome depression. Sex has obviously been used before in When Harry met Sally for example and with that a renowned funny classic you may wonder what this has to compare.

For starters this is a delusion on the trailer which depicts the film as a broad cruel epic with constant joking and a use of crude comedy to get it's entertainment across.

Whilst there are numerous references to the different elements of sex that can give American Pie a run for its money, this is good because it does not take itself too seriously. The scripting is relaxed, and is not penned around set ups for an obvious joke. There are sharp timings in and amongst the 40 days with numerous challenges for the teen heart throb Josh Hartnett.

The actor is likable enough with a chilled presence whilst bringing an elegant amount of comedy our way. The comedy however comes mostly from the supporting players, particularly Matt's flatmate. This is where this film succeeds though as Matt's target is a serious business considering his motivation to get over his ex girlfriend. The balance is therefore articulate as we comprehend the elegant dreams of the central protagonist with his problems we therefore do not need the awkward jokes subsiding the seriousness.

This is by no means soft hearted either as the relationship between Matt and Erica is one of the most grown up dates you will see in teen comedy.

The scripting is quite exquisite considering the modern language of stereotypical teenagers. The cocky flatmate isn't too over the top whilst the work colleagues seem ordinary enough but whilst this work the level of comedy is maintained.

Here are a couple of drawbacks. The ending like all or most romantic comedies is inevitable; Erica's constant doubts and reactions can be tiring whilst Maggie Gyllenhaal is quite annoying.

But this is a sharp comedy that is light-hearted but still funny with a good central lead that is certainly worth a look.

8.5/10

Rating: - Not bad but not excellent

Unfortunately I was misled by The times.They rated this film as excellent.

The soundtrack was good and the gratuitous nudity was OK and the actresses were worth a look.

I could imagine the pitch. Its about a bloke who decides not to have sex for 40 days and 40 nights. Great says the Hollywood executive it has to be winner. The trouble is that was the best joke in the film and although there were some good one liners and plenty of crude jokes the story was stretched to breaking pint.

We had women who were desperate to sleep with him just because they had made a bet and his ex girlfriend comes back and rapes him. All male fantasy stuff.

He falls in love and the lady finds out about the no sex pledge and the betting going on but she sticks by him and really loves him and it all works out in the end.

It must have been made when dot com was sexy as all the blokes worked in dot com companies and they looked younger than the actors who play high school students. They seem to keep them in school until there about 40 and they drive cars etc. When they depict people in computer businesses they look like thirteen year old.

The whole film is worth a look but not excellent. I didn't know any of the actors as it was all a bit modern for me.

Not as hilarious as Hollywood had hoped but a fair effort.

Rating: - ok but not mind blowing

I liked this film but i didnt love it. I thought Josh did really well with his character, and played him briliantly, i again like Shannyn Sossamon as i did in A Knights Tale. But i cant put my finger on what i didnt quite like about it, i just dont know. it's a good film for watching when there is nothing on telly.

buy it, try it but dont expect to be blown away.

Rating: - 40 Days And 40 Nights

When picking up this film I knew I was getting a young throwaway comedy so I wasn't expecting a tense dramatic plot with a plausible storyline and top notch acting, I was more than ready to forgive the film some failings. What I was expecting though, was a comedy driven story with hopefully some sweet romantic moments thrown in to while away the time.

Unfortunately I got none of this and instead was served up a one joke movie that was neither truly funny nor particularly enjoyable.

Matt Sullivan (Josh Hartnett) has just been dumped by his girlfriend, and after a succession of one night stands and various liaisons he is no further in forgetting the girl he has put on a very very high pedestal. In an attempt to rid himself of her memories, he decides that celibacy is the answer and vows to give up sex and girls for lent. This is a task that his flatmate and work colleagues believe is far beyond Matt and even go so far as to set up a betting web-site tracking his progress. Can Matt resist the pleasures of the skin for 40 days and 40 nights, and can the beautiful girl at the laundrette help him?

And so the scene is set for possibly the shallowest movie I have ever seen.

The one plus point was that Josh Hartnett (who honestly has the acting ability of a garden shed) and Shannyn Sossamon did play together quite well, and the romantic interludes did work more or less. Shannyn Sossamon's character, Erica, was the one beacon of light in the film and all credit for her for at least putting in one performance of merit.

The rest of the film just wasn't funny enough. Because of the fact that as I say, the whole premise of the film was based around one joke the film couldn't divert from this and as such became simply limp and boring. The scenes when some good comedy could have been generated, for example the scene where Matt has dinner with his parents, are almost missed because of the stupor that the audience has been lulled into.

I expected the film to be fairly shallow, but the array of beautiful people, with their beautiful clothes, successful jobs, wonderful apartments just became far far too clichéd.

Rating: - a good film with good humour

To be honest, if this was real life, i couldnt do it. 40 days and nights without the relief of sex? But josh harnett plays the character superbly, and does it purely for spiritual purposes and relate to the opposite sex on a different level.i found the overall feeling of the film very funny, it wouldnt have been the same if he hadnt had a flatmate, who gave him advice on what to do, and that he should stop. a gripping film with very funny dialogue.

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