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Amazon.co.uk Review
To appreciate 28 Days, it's best to be thankful that director Betty Thomas hasn't forced Sandra Bullock into a remake of Clean and Sober. Instead Thomas has balanced her comedic sensibility (evident in Dr. Dolittle and Private Parts) with the seriousness of alcoholism and substance abuse, and she succeeds without compromising the gravity of the subject matter. Some critics have scoffed at the movie's breezy, formulaic portrait of 27-year-old boozer and pill-popper Gwen Cummings (Bullock), but this smooth-running star vehicle does for Bullock what Erin Brockovich did for Julia Roberts, focusing her appeal in a substantial role without taxing the limits of her talent. It's no wonder that Susannah Grant (who wrote both films) was one of the hottest new screenwriters of 1999. She writes "Hollywood Lite" without insulting anyone's intelligence.
As played by Bullock, Gwen is an alcoholic in denial whose latest bender with boozer boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West) ruins the wedding of her sister (Elizabeth Perkins) and lands her in a month-long rehab program with the requisite gang of struggling drunks and junkies. Newcomer Alan Tudyk steals his scenes as a gay German rehabber who might've dropped in from a Berlin performance-art exhibit, and Steve Buscemi aptly conveys the weary commitment of a counsellor who's seen it all. Thomas has surrounded Bullock with a sharp ensemble, and the addition of singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III (as a kind of Greek chorus crooner) is sublimely inspired. Certainly no surprises here--the warring sisters will reconcile, and at least one rehabber will fail to recover--but there's ample pleasure to be found in Bullock's finely tuned performance, and in Thomas's inclusion of flashbacks and tangents that add depth and laughter in just the right dosage. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sandra shows her serious side,
By
This review is from: 28 Days [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
Sandra Bullock plays a habitually drunk or hung-over, pill popping party girl who arrives late and dishevelled for her sister's wedding and dances so wildly that she goes careering into the cake. In an attempt to buy a replacement, she then steals the wedding limo and ends up sentenced to 28 days in rehab for crashing it into a house. So far, so wild and outrageous. The bulk of this thoughtful movie deals with her character's efforts to get sober, despite her carefree boyfriend's sabotaging visits. There is a fine ensemble performance from her fellow inmates. Steve Buscemi also puts in brief appearances as her counsellor. This is not Bullock's usual light-hearted fare. She shows she can cut it in a serious role too. Worth watching.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy Going,
By A Customer
This review is from: 28 Days [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
This is the kind of film that everyone would like... Its the kind of thing you could watch during the day for something to do, its easy going, lighthearted, and makes you laugh.Sandra Bullock plays 'Gwen' a woman who lives her life from party to hangover to party again- and as a result of getting wasted at her sisters wedding, and behaving badly she is asked to spend 28 days in rehab.- It might sound depressing, but it really isnt, its very very funny... A well done movie with a subtle message... Essential DVD A*****
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
serious in all the right places,
By A Customer
This review is from: 28 Days [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
Although this is a very serious subject, the film does not make light of it in any way. Bullock is perfect in this role as the outrageous sister who's cake splattering antics ruin her sister's wedding. Buscemi is the 'seen it all' counsellor whom she has to fight to stay put, and although his part isn't huge, he's almost the sober voice of God in her struggle to become clean. However, if we're talking howls of laughter here, then the prize goes to the camp German guy, who was just so wonderful I can't begin to describe him. It's almost worth watching this just to see what he's going to say next. All in all - kind of predictable in places, but Bullock is so watchable, you don't want the film to end.
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