In his latest film Josh Hartnett vows to give up sex for a torturous 40 days and 40 nights. This may sound like a harsh test for someone with his good looks, but for the rest of us it’s called existence.
But regardless of its exaggerated dilemma, “40 Days and 40 Nights” is an amusing romantic comedy that goes beyond its high-concept aspirations and become an enjoyable movie. Directed by Michael Lehmann, who made the charming “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” and the wicked “Heathers,” the film is a hybrid of sweet romance and low humor, and finds a happy medium between the two.
At the beginning of the film, Matt Sullivan (Hartnett) is depressed about his recent break-up with Nicole, played by Toni Collette look-a-like Vinessa Shaw.
To erase her from his mind he tries to bury his sorrow by sleeping with a long string of gorgeous women, but he quickly realizes the meaningless sex night after night only leads to emptiness. (Why must some men suffer so?) However the endless torture he endures does deliver one of the funniest moments in the film when Hartnett is forced to fake an orgasm. It’s the “When Harry Met Sally” deli scene reversed.
Realizing the error of his ways, Hartnett gives up sex and all things sexual. Unbeknownst to him, his co-workers start a betting pool on how long he’ll last. In some of the broadest humor bits of the film, each co-worker schemes to push Hartnett over the edge.
The males tempt him with porn and slip Viagra into his juice, while the female co-workers tempt him with their bodies. (And, of course, they are all gorgeous.)
But a few weeks into the vow he meets the woman of his dreams, Erica (Shannyn Sossamon). They fall in love, like most movie characters do, in a matter of a few days; conflict arises when the vow gets in the way of their romance, or at least their sex lives. Unlike a rational being,
Hartnett continues with the vow rather than realizing that she is the answer he has been searching for, and decides to jeopardize their relationship to finish out the 40 days.
This guy is a moron, because she’s gorgeous as well. (At some point the moviegoer feels like hitting him over the head.)
Considering that nearly all romantic comedies revolve around the female character, it is refreshing to see a film that focuses on the male viewpoint, which, of course, means there are a lot of dick jokes. (This is a dick flick, instead of a chick flick.) But that doesn’t mean the film isn’t sweet; there are some tender moments intermingled with the penis humor.
Admittedly, the leading couple is cute together. There are a few affectionate scenes between them and, even though they may feel manipulated, moviegoers can buy into their romance.
“40 Days and 40 Nights” is not the greatest film ever, but it is sweet and funny. In the end the film delivers a nice mixture of tones that can satisfy both the male and female moviegoer.
Staff Writer Steve Allan can be contacted at: [email protected]