40 DATES AND 40 NIGHTS -- I'd Take That Bet

Review by Steve Barton II

Have you ever had that awkward realization of your own mortality while consuming media? When you see a kid you grew up watching on television take on their first “adult” role, it can cause a whiplash to your soul. It may have happened for you back in the 90s when Showgirls hit the big screen (or more likely VHS) and you saw Jessie Spano bare more than her passion for dance! From the mid-2000s on, Bailee Madison was a name you’d see constantly as a guest star on kids shows or as a cute, innocent kid in a horror movie. In the case of 40 Dates and 40 Nights, Bailee Madison breaks out of her kids/teen media past and shows that she’s now a romantic comedy leading lady! 40 Dates and 40 Nights follows Leah (Madison) as a young woman in her late twenties and is struggling to find her perfect romantic partner and pay her rent. Leah’s Aunt Gigi (the legendary Annie Potts) challenges Leah to go on 40 dates in 40 nights to make a real effort to find true love. If she completes the challenge, Gigi will cover rent for a year.

The adage “you have to kiss a bunch of frogs to find your prince” comes to mind when you read the synopsis. While it may not be the most original premise, the characters we meet during 40 Dates and 40 Nights make it worthwhile. We start the movie in the midst of Leah dealing with the familiar scenario of the morning after hooking up with a hot douchebag. Unlike Bailee’s past work on Disney or Hallmark, this film doesn’t sanitize the characters and their dialogue and they speak like real people about plan b pills and sex. Young women at a similar age or stage in life will relate to Leah heavily seeing her yearn for love and a better life, but she’s not perfect. While the “movie magic” still plays its hand in 40 Dates and 40 Nights, this theory of finding yourself by meeting others and broadening your mind is one that certainly makes sense.

While the cast isn’t large or full of A-list stars, 40 Dates and 40 Nights gathered the perfect group. Bailee is certainly a star in the making and proves that she can be a leading lady here with her comedic timing and on-screen chemistry with all of her dates. Bailee is definitely the most famous of the former child actors in this cast, but she’s not the only one. Former Disney Channel star Sterling Knight has a cameo role as one of Leah’s dates and steals the scene, but Joel Courtney is our leading man. His character feels quite similar to his previous work in The Kissing Booth series and that’s not necessarily a compliment. Joel is a charming guy and seems nice, but he also gives off major incel vibes in both movies when things don’t go his way. The legendary Annie Potts rounds out the cast as Aunt Gigi and she’s perfect as the almost “fairy godmother” role helping Leah and guide her through her love journey.

40 Dates and 40 Nights is a fun, young adult rom-com, but nothing that hasn’t been done before. The major attraction here is Bailee Madison and anyone curious to see how her transition to adulthood has changed her acting. The dialogue is refreshingly authentic and the comedy is funny and relatable, especially to single people trying to find their person. The editing of the date montages was the strongest technical feature, but it stays true to the classic rom-com look with bright colors and warm lighting. If a cute rom-com that’s light and unserious, 40 Dates and 40 Nights should be on your watchlist.

40 Dates and 40 Nights is in theaters on June 26th and then on VOD starting June 30th! 

Rating: 3/5