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40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)
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Reviews Counted:133
Fresh:50
Rotten:83
Average Rating:4.8/10
Consensus: As romantic comedies go, 40 Days and 40 Nights is smutty, sexist, and puerile.
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $37,885,539
Synopsis: Matt (Josh Hartnett) is having a hard time moving on six months after his relationship with bombshell Nicole (Vinessa Shaw) ended. He finds himself involved in empty physical relationships that are... Matt (Josh Hartnett) is having a hard time moving on six months after his relationship with bombshell Nicole (Vinessa Shaw) ended. He finds himself involved in empty physical relationships that are unfulfilling and ultimately send him fleeing. His solution is to give up sex and anything sexual for the 40 days of Lent. Initially, Matt is empowered by his decision--until he meets stunning Erica (Shannyn Sossamon), the girl of his dreams, at the local laundromat. Erica doesn't know about Matt's vow of abstinence, which impacts their budding relationship. To complicate matters more, Matt's co-workers are determined to literally put their two cents in as well by establishing a betting pool about how long Matt can keep his vow. Hartnett is endearing as the clumsy Matt, who desperately wants to do the right thing. Griffin Dunne stars as Matt's sex-starved boss. Also starring Paulo Costanzo and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film was produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the team that made NOTTING HILL and BRIDGET JONES' DIARY, and directed by Michael Lehmann (HEATHERS). The city of San Francisco provides a beautiful backdrop to this modern look at love that includes a touch of crude teen-movie humor. [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Vinessa Shaw, Monet Mazur
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Vinessa Shaw, Monet Mazur, Griffin Dunne, Paulo Costanzo, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Director: Michael Lehmann
Director: Michael Lehmann
Screenwriter: Robert Perez
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Studio: Miramax Films
Reviews for 40 Days and 40 Nights
What I learned from this movie: Absitenence can be a very good thing. Especially from box offices where this film is playing.
For all its outrageous humor, 40 Days and 40 Nights actually has something to say about the value of emotional intimacy over physical intimacy.
Along with its share of cheap comedy, it delivers a decent love story, perceptive comment on sexuality and relationships, and a breakout performance by Josh Hartnett.
Even by the relatively relaxed standards of teen sex, or no sex, farces, 40 Days and 40 Nights is painful to watch.
It's risque, lewd, worthy of Balzac, 90-plus minutes of pretty hilarious smut.
In places 40 Days is actually quite witty but one can't help feeling that both Hartnett and Lehmann ... deserve better than this.
Part romance, part raunch, 40 Days and 40 Nights has difficulty sticking to a consistent tone.
The details are fresh and writer Rob Perez's dialogue about sex has more complexity and nuance than we expect.
You may feel like taking a vow of abstinence yourself -- at least from Hollywood youth-sex comedies.
Latest News for 40 Days and 40 Nights
February 01, 2007:
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April 06, 2006:
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This week at the movies, we explore the joys of dance ("Take the Lead"), mistaken identity ("Lucky Number Slevin"), our national pastime ("The... More...
December 07, 2005:
"So" It Has a Good Cast!
heatGold Circle films is about to get rolling on their ensemble comedy, "Because I Said So," and the cast includes names like Keaton, Moore, Graham, Perabo, and Macht. More...
June 16, 2005:
Stanford, Levine & Several Others Head for the "Hills"
The Hollywood Reporter brings us the full cast list for the upcoming remake of Wes Craven's "The Hills Have Eyes." Filming begins rather soon, and director Alexandre... More...
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