New Reviews
Divergent
Django Unchained
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Les Misérables
Quartet
Chernobyl Diaries
The Cabin in the Woods
Balibo

40 days and 40 nights (2002)

Rating: 6/10

Running Time: 96 minutes

UK Certificate: 15

On DVD

On reflection, is it really that difficult for a teenage boy to abstain from sex for 40 days? I am sure there are plenty of people that go months, if not years without sex.

But with that as the movie's rather weak premise, Matt Sullivan (Harnett) takes a vow of celibacy in order to get over ex girlfriend Nicole (Vaugier) and the complexities of casual sex. His 'dood' friends set up a sweepstake on how many days he will survive before falling victim to the 'pleasures of the flesh'.

Intent of remaining true to his 40 day vow, Matt engrosses himself in all manner of daily chores, but while at the laundrette, meets the girl of his dreams Erica (Sossamon) who promptly sweeps him off his feet. But can their relationship last 40 days when they cannot so much as even kiss?

It's as simple as that. A fairly uninspired movie, with a few laughs. Ideal watching for a Sunday afternoon when you've nothing better to do.

It's Got: Two gorgeous main characters

It Needs: A more plausible storyline

DVD Extras A promotional teaser and a directors commentary. Very poor indeed. DVD Extras Rating: 2/10

Summary

While Hartnett is a good male lead, he doesn't quite pull it off (no pun intended) successfully in this quirky movie about sex. It's not over funny and certainly nothing new. Complete with hugely predictable 'does he get the girl?' ending and over the top characters – as a romantic comedy, it succeeds at entertaining, if only barely.