40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

I never saw this in the theater. I'm not a huge fan of Josh Hartnett, though I've seen him perform well in some films. It just didn't look all that particularly good, but with the library expanding their DVD limit from 3 at a time to 5, that leaves me a little more room to experiment. Hence, 40 Days and 40 Nights.

It's not the worst pitch – a man who has trouble getting over his ex takes a vow of celibacy for Lent while he tries to get his life back together – but it's not the most inspired idea for a film either. What could have been an intelligent, sarcastic look at sex degenerates into a teenage sex comedy, complete with repeated masturbation jokes, naked or nearly-naked women, and an almost complete loss of focus through much of the film.

Hartnett gives it a game try, but the script is just too juvenile. Most of Matt's (Hartnett) co-workers, including his roommate, are morons, obsessed with sex and boobs, and his brother is a priest, who really isn't much help to him throughout the picture. Of course right after he swears off women he meets the right one, Erica (Shannyn Sossaman), who finds out the wrong way about his vow. Naturally he has to balance his celibacy with his burgeoning desire for Erica, whom he actually really likes, and I saw an opportunity to make a point about making a connection on a plane other than physical, but apparently even that sentiment was too deep for this film, which largely consists of the same gag repeated, namely, everyone tries to get Matt to get off. Guys try to slip him viagra. Women come on to him with tricks borrowed from the lamest porn movies. Guys hand him Penthouse magazines. And so on. I suppose your average sixth grader would have found it really funny, but mostly, the film's just an embarrassment.

One small note; the ever-wonderful Michael Maronna (Big Pete on The Adventures of Pete and Pete) has a recurring role as a bagel delivery man known simply as Bagel Guy. He has most of the better lines and as usual displays sharp comic timing. But not worth sitting through just to see his small part. You should follow Matt's example and swear off this movie – for good.