lingmeister

This film 40 days and 40 nights is about our main character Matt, played by Josh Hartnett, abstaining from sex for 40 days as part of Lent in order to grow from his deprivation. In that sense, this movie fails miserably. Matt didn't seem to get anything out of it, except get more and more desperate toward the end. Basically, the only thing that goes on in this film is Matt trying not to think about sex, and obstacles are constantly thrown in front of him. For the first few times, it might be mildly amusing, but to go on and on with the same jokes makes the movie tedious and pointless. Even going to his parent's house where they suddenly starts talking about sex positions seem to turn him on, besides the whole situation being incredible since nobody ever discussed about these things in the open before this topic of Karma Sutra positions came up, it should also not turn him on hearing his parent talk of such things. But this film doesn't know any better.

The behavior of Matt is also at odds, since I would presume the toughest period would be the beginning, then once he get used to it, he would cruise home like a monk. But the way this film treats sex is as if it is food, where the longer you are deprived of it, the worse condition you become. Toward the end, he is in full mad dash toward the finish line, as if one is running toward home with a full bladder, where the closer you get toward home, the more you feel like going.

The relationship with the girl he meets at the laundry is real odd, with him returning there the next week for some unknown reason. I would think he would forgo following up on that brief encounter for the sake of his goal. Then they have this non-sexual relationship, but it seems to indicate without sex, there is no relationship. Then he goes on titillating her with a flower while both of them are unclothed. If the goal is celibacy, doing this violates the spirit of it, if not technically. Even Matt's relationship with his last girlfriend seems at to be odd, with the blissful memories he had versus the vampy personality she portrays upon her apperance.

I am not sure why the countdown goes to midnight, would it not be easier if he starts right at the point where he decides to abstain from sex? Or from the time he last had sex? I am not even sure what the ending indicates, since he goes on this massive 60 hour sex-fest, throwing what little concept this movie had out the window.

Unsuccessful version of the buddy cop movie. There might have been a few funny moments, but much of it seem to be a satirical parody of television industry/police world. Even in those scenes, it doesn't totally succeed, since frequently, the satire seems so light that it is more of a behind the scene view.

The whole concept of getting the cop on TV and getting the two characters together seem too ill conceived. The side plot involving the bad guys are so thin and lame that it seems to be tacked on afterward, but it probably isn't because that is when all the big actions happens.

The pacing also seems odd, the film tries to be a quirky comedy at times, but the scenes just isn't that odd or hard hitting enough. So it ends up feeling like those low laugh sitcoms.

Much of the jokes were predictable, like their description of DeNiro's facial expression when they were in the dressing room, others parts of the plot are so unbelievable like the armored truck robbery in broad public or shooting down of the house. Is that why the bad guys went out of their way to buy these handheld cannons with armor piercing depleted uranium shells? You would think there would be a more sinister arms dealing with foreign or militias involved.

Eddie Murphy and Robert DeNiro characters might have their scenes, but not when interacting together. Basically, there is no chemistry between the two, and what little bonding that occurs in the Corvette seem to be forced onto us by the movie. William Shatner was good also, but we can't help wanting him to be more Kirk-like, since we seem to be in a spoof movie.