This phrase typically refers to the 2002 romantic comedy film starring Josh Hartnett and Shannyn Sossamon. The narrative centers on a web designer who vows to abstain from all sexual activity for Lent, a period of forty days and forty nights, leading to various comedic and romantic complications. The film’s title alludes to the biblical accounts of the Great Flood and Jesus’s time in the wilderness, both involving a 40-day and 40-night timeframe. The phrase can also sometimes refer to the novelization of the film.
The film’s premise, while lighthearted, explores themes of self-control, temptation, and the complexities of modern relationships. It achieved moderate commercial success and remains a recognizable pop culture reference point for the early 2000s romantic comedy genre. The film also tapped into the zeitgeist of the dot-com boom and bust era of San Francisco. The use of the biblically significant timeframe adds a layer of irony to the modern romantic struggles depicted.
