28 Days Reviews

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this flick but since I always had a weak spot for Sandra Bullock, I was quite eager to check it out. Indeed, ever since ‘The Blind Side’ (which is actually rather overrated in my opinion), her status has changed from a very popular but rather fluffy actress to bonafide dramatic thespian. In fact, almost 10 years before, she actually tried something a little bit heavier than her usual romantic-comedies but it seems that the audience was not really ready since it wasn’t a real success. The point is that it is a very interesting subject and it was fairly well developped but there was a deliberate wish to tone down the material to make sure that it was never too dark or depressing in order to not alienate Sandra Bullock’s core audience. Still, there was enough grittiness and Bullock did manage to deliver a decent performance, even if she did look way too charming to be a real hardcore alcoholist. It was also really nice to see Viggo Mortensen, at the time already a very good but seriously underrated actor, really stealing the show. His next move would be a little trilogy involving some ring, you must have heard of it. To conclude, even though it could have been much better, it is still a decent drama and I think it is worth a look, especially if you are interested in Sandra Bullock’s work.

"Yeah, I know I drink a lot, I know I do because I'm a writer and that's what I do, I drink. I'm not like those people out there, I can control myself!"

Normally I tend to avoid these kinds of chick flicks. Over the years I haven't viewed many girly films that have ended up being anything more than fluffy clichéd entertainment. I approached 28 Days because of the outstanding cast that this film had to boast. I am pleased and happy to report that this film isn't as bad as I was originally anticipating.

A free-spirited big-city journalist named Gwen Cummings (Bullock) is a raging alcoholic who spends most of her time getting drunk with her equally boozy boyfriend Jasper (West). Frequently the two endlessly party all night; binge drinking into the early hours of the morning. Gwen turns up to her sister's wedding not only late, but also hopelessly inebriated. During the wedding she makes a complete fool of herself by falling onto the wedding cake while dancing uncontrollably. She then aims to replace the cake on short notice and ends up crashing a limousine into a house. Charged with a drink driving offence she is given the choice of jail time or a 28-day rehab program. Not surprisingly, Gwen chooses rehab. At first she is hesitant to get involved in any of the treatment programs; instead denying that she has an addiction to both cigarettes and alcohol. The whole thing seems like a bad joke to her. However after getting to know some of the fellow patients she re-examines her life and slowly conforms to the activities that the other patients are involved in.

28 Days is not so much a comedy but a poignant look at the troubled people of contemporary society. The audience can easily relate to all the characters because we see them commonly on the streets around us. The story is more concerned with Gwen finding a way to deal with life. I thought that this was a refreshing film because I've seen far too many comedies that fail when trying to be something more meaningful than it actually is.

Even after saying that, 28 Days is a film that also contains a bunch of fantastic gags. I adored the clever parody of the typical daytime soap opera. Because of how convoluted and hilariously over-the-top soapies actually are, it's great to see a soapie that is actually meant to be funny.

Many of the laughs can also be attributed to the sensational cast. Sandra Bullock has never played anyone quite like this character. This has even been called her best performance to date. Bullock suits her role perfectly. She's entirely believable and perfectly cast. However, the major stand-out for me was the gay German dancer played by Alan Tudyk. Now this is a focused performer! Throughout the film he never breaks his complete concentration. Every line is delivered in an amusing German accent. His testimony about forks was entirely improvised by Alan on the spot! All his mannerisms are very funny at times.

28 Days, of course, is a great comedy with a few good messages about life. On the contrary there's also a selection of flaws. There are some laughs, but I felt a distinct lack of quality laugh-out-loud moments of which the film has precious little. Naturally, this is a matter of taste. I also thought that the film was heavily clichéd at times as well as being highly predictable during its middle section. Even with those clichés being present, I must also say that the film manages to avoid many of the typical conventions of the genre. This is always a good sign.

Overall, I found 28 Days to be great viewing if you're bored on a rainy afternoon or if you want a night of good laughs and drama. Don't raise your expectations too high and you won't be disappointed. Certainly worth a screening or two.