Easier said than done.|Mar. 01, 2002|United Kingdom | United States|94 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Romance
Description: Matt Sullivan lives in San Francisco with his roommate Ryan and works at a dot-com company. Struggling with his obsession over his ex-girlfriend Nicole, Matt faces sexual dysfunction with other women. He confides in his brother John, a Catholic priest-in-training. After a failed attempt to fake an orgasm with a date, Matt learns that Nicole is engaged. Determined to resolve his issues, he vows to abstain from all sexual stimulation, including masturbation, for the 40 days of Lent.
On the first day of his celibacy, Matt removes all tempting items and reminders of Nicole from his apartment. He meets a stranger named Erica at a laundromat but struggles to talk to her. Meanwhile, his coworkers and Ryan start a betting pool to predict how long he can last, which quickly goes viral online. Matt returns to the laundromat to see Erica, who reveals she works as a “cyber nanny” filtering internet pornography. They form a connection, and Matt takes her on a bus ride date but awkwardly avoids kissing her.
When they discover the betting pool and its website, Erica becomes upset. Matt tries to explain his intentions, but the damage is done. His boss decides to join him in celibacy, and Erica, having developed feelings for Matt, agrees to another date. During the date, they run into Nicole and her fiancé. Frustrated by Matt’s unresolved feelings for Nicole, Erica leaves him.
As Matt battles his urges, his coworkers try to sabotage him. Seeking guidance, he turns to his brother, but even a family dinner becomes awkward when their parents discuss their own sex life. By Day 35, the betting pool reaches $18,000, and a colleague pressures Matt to give in. As Matt heads to the bathroom to masturbate, he finds his boss—who accidentally consumed a Viagra-spiked drink meant for Matt—masturbating in the next stall. With the office waiting outside, Matt escapes through the window and goes to Erica. They reconcile and spend a night of intimacy together without actual intercourse.
Cast director: Michael Lehmann
Cast actor: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo, Vinessa Shaw, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Adam Trese, Griffin Dunne, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Lorin Heath, Aaron Trainor
Original name: 40 Days and 40 Nights