40 Days and 40 Nights ** (2002, Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo) – Classic Movie Review 667

Josh Hartnett stars in 2002 as Matt Sullivan, in a smutty, witless teen romantic comedy drama. He’s a San Francisco likely lad who goes through hell and high water trying to stay celibate for 40 Days and 40 Nights for reasons best known to the scriptwriter Rob Perez.

Well, Matt’s had a bad breakup, apparently, and gets the idea that swearing off sex for Lent will give him the perspective he needs. That includes all forms of sexual activity, even kissing or masturbation, just to be clear.

Naturally, his old flame Nicole (Vinessa Shaw), who broke up with him months ago and is now engaged to someone else, and a brand new true love Erica (Shannyn Sossamon) then turn up like bad pennies to torment the poor boy. Though he’s still obsessed with getting Nicole back, only a few days later after swearing off sex he’s met Erica and they fall in love. But he won’t tell her about his secret vow.

The constant masturbation and hard-on jokes wear really thin after about the first four days’ movie time. The rest of this contrived teen comedy is pretty much hell. It’s not sexy, not funny, not anything at all really.

Hartnett is likeable and looks tasty enough to eat, but is more or less totally wasted here. And, though he works hard on his comedy skills, he can’t really do anything very much to lift it. Griffin Dunne and Barry Newman are pretty awful as his boss and dad. Paolo Costanzo is okay as Hartnett’s roomie.

Michael Lehmann, known for Heathers (1988), Meet the Applegates (1990), Hudson Hawk (1991) and Airheads (1994), directs, briskly, competently and professionally

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 667

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