40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

Directed by: Michael Lehmann | 96 minutes | drama, comedy, romance | Actors: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Adam Trese, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Lorin Heath, Aaron Trainor, Glenn Fitzgerald, Monet Mazur, Christine Chatelain, Keegan Connor Tracy, Michael C. Maronna, Vinessa Shaw, Stefanie von Pfetten Stanley Anderson, Griffin Dunne, Jarrad Paul, Terry Chen, Kai Lennox, Chris Gauthier, Alan Draven, Dylan Neal, Michelle Harrison, Rueben Grundy, Natassia Malthe

What could be funnier than frustrated teenagers not having sex? Someone who voluntarily has no sex for forty days, while women tear his clothes off. Aimed at teens with fire in their loins, ’40 Days and 40 Nights’ aims to offer a little more than the average high school rom-com. It remains as light-hearted as a Bros, but the more original angle allows the film to distinguish itself from its peers.

When Matt (Josh Hartnett) gets dumped by his girlfriend Nicole (Vinessa Shaw), he can’t forget her. Together with his jellyfish roommate Ryan (Paulo Costanzo) he plunges into the single life. Unlike many men, Matt manages to get random women into bed within five minutes of the first meeting – something that seems to be perfectly normal in this movie – . However, the extensive sex does not fill the void, so Matt announces that he will remain celibate for 40 days. That also means no masturbating or even a kiss. Hilarious.

What does a man who is not allowed to masturbate for 40 days do? He will build airplanes, do crafts and read interesting books. The things Matt does to avoid thinking about sex, while caricatured, are quite witty. His environment, filled with cardboard and sex-crazed characters, doesn’t make it any easier for him. Female colleagues get wind of his oath and try to change his mind with hoarse voices and deep cleavage.

Then Matt enters the laundromat – where else? – Erica (Shannyn Sossamon) against. Just as handsome as the twats he gets into bed at random, but dressed alternatively, to give that touch of intellectuality. She is special after all! After a short conversation, the viewer knows for sure. This one is it. We are disappointed with Matt that he just had to take that annoying oath. Is their love doomed? The rest of the film can be guessed at, of course. Hartnett, not exactly versatile, is in the right place in this genre. His usual casual and bumbling disposition seems made for this film. Especially in the scenes where he is about to throw in the towel, this works best.

’40 Days and 40 Nights’ ultimately follows the conventional plot formula of a romantic comedy set in a world where there are unreasonably many beautiful people. But despite all the clichés, the film has moments that make it bearable and also know how to amuse, not least thanks to Hartnett. Apparently the film also knows how to inspire. Reportedly, there have been countless men who, after seeing ’40 Days and 40 Nights’, have remained celibate for 40 days to test themselves. Unless all women have the terrifying angelic patience of Erica, they must be wondering why the hell you should get into it.