| Josh Hartnett stars as Matt Sullivan whose last big relationship ended so disastrously that his heart's been aching ever since and his ability to commit has been seriously lacking.
Then comes Lent, that time of year when everyone gives up something. That's when Matt, a guy who's never been able to finish anything, decides to go where no man's gone before and make a vow of no sex for 40 straight days.
At first he has everything under control - but then the woman of his dreams, Erica (Shannyn Sossamon) walks into his life. Sexy and spirited, Erica drives Matt wild.
Now, with everyone betting he won't finish what he started, he's just trying to hold on, and hoping she's willing to hold out...
INTERVIEW WITH SHANNYN SOSSAMON
It looks as though there were a lot of love scenes to shoot. Were they embarrassing, or was it just part of the job?
Kissing scenes are always fine, no big deal at all. The flower scene was beautiful to film actually, very relaxed. I think Josh had the more embarrassing scenes, he had a much harder time than me, I didn't have anything embarrassing to film. Although at one point, in the Laundromat scene in Josh's fantasy, I had to be totally naked sitting on top of a washing machine! I felt so awkward and everybody was behind me so they all had the worst view!
What did you think when you actually saw the film?
When I saw the film I just said "Wow!" It is really different and it works. I was pleasantly surprised and happy with it. I think it is cute and that people will like it. I think it is a feel-good film.
Do you think it would be harder for a female to try to have 40 days and 40 nights of abstinence than for a man?
I don't think it would be that hard for a girl.
What would you do to get over a broken heart? In the same situation as Matt, what would you do?
I don't know because Matt was confusing lust with love and I've never done that. When I have fallen in love, it has always been true love and when it is just lust, I know that it is just lust. I'm really healthy that way. Not that I've never had a broken heart, but I've never been in that situation where I got the two confused. I mean he wasn't clear headed, because he really thought that he was in love with this girl and that he was heart broken, but he wasn't thinking straight.
Are you in a relationship at the moment?
No, I was for 3 years but I am single now and it is good. It's good because as I said before, I was too extreme about the relationship so it was good for me to hang out with my friends and family more, and just be by myself. When I am in love with somebody it is just too...
Intense?
When you start thinking about marriage and stuff, yes. I'm only 23 and I shouldn't be living a married life with too much of a pattern.
Is it difficult when you have an acting job, where you have to live in different locations, to keep up a relationship?
Yes, that is really hard. I don't think it was the problem with my relationship and that's not why we broke up, but yes, it is hard unless of course the person is doing the same thing as you are. I don't mean acting necessarily but just so you are on the same page and are best friends.
What sort of places do you find romantic? Riding the bus for example?
I actually have friends who will ride a bus all day, just going around town looking at the city and at the same time observing all these strange and different people. That is the only cool thing about Josh's character because it shows he is artistic, and I think it makes it realistic that he would get together with someone like Erica. Although he didn't know it - he still had the immature boy in him that thought he needed a playboy girl.
What would be a romantic date for you, and what would a guy have to do to capture your heart?
I don't really know. Those questions are hard for me because I don't have any set thing in my head. I just can't name a perfect scenario because if you actually had it, it probably wouldn't be like you'd imagined it in your head.
You said in the production notes that Erica is a quirky dork. What gave you that impression?
That's how I wanted to play her because I felt if she was too perfect and was the cool girl, it would annoy the audience, especially the girls, that the girl he ended up being with was totally cool and perfect. So I think she is a little bit dorky, a little awkward. She's normal. Real.
That character, as opposed to his ex, is far more appealing and attractive than his ex. I don't know if the guys in the audience would think his ex was stunning...
Well she's a bitch but she is really attractive and 7 out of 10 guys would really fall for her.
Are you are still DJ'ing?
Not really. Once in a while I will do a club but I am more like a radio DJ. I don't really rock crowds for hours. I like to play records as if I was in a radio station.
What's your favourite track at the moment?
I don' t really have one because I like all kinds of music. I love good music, it's as simple as that.
Did you always want to act? I understand you were just spotted as opposed to you going after it.
I didn't go after it and I probably never would have. I knew I could do it, it is just as important to me as music and dancing arts, but it is not my whole life. I'm not ambitious. I want to be in theatre, I'm an actor and I am completely comfortable with that.
Do you still dance and is that your real passion?
Yes I still dance, but all the arts are my passion equally.
Would you like to be in a musical?
Yes that would be cool, it would be fun if it was the right one.
A dancing movie perhaps?
Yes I love to dance, I like stretching, I like movement and grace.
Did you see Dancer in the Dark?
Yes I loved that movie, that was my favourite movie since the ones from the old days. Billy Elliot was nice as well.
So you are not into Flashdance and Dirty Dancing - those types of dance movies?
Well I do like those kind of dance movies. Dirty Dancing actually had some really nice dancing in it. Especially all the dirty dancing. That was better than the ballroom stuff.
So did you fancy Patrick Swayze when you were growing up?
Yes I did but more in a little girl kind of way. I just loved him in that movie and I thought he was a great dancer, I just really respected him.
Who did you have pinned up on your wall?
The Cure.
Was that the stuff you were listening to when you were growing up?
Yes, that kind of stuff. I liked the Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead when I was growing up, but now I have a huge library of music that I like.
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