After ruining her sister’s wedding and crashing a limousine, Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) is sentenced to 28 days in a rehab centre, to work through her alcohol and drug dependency. Initially resistant to the idea, Gwen eventually realises that she does have a problem, and starts to re-examine her life.
I admit that much as I like Sandra Bullock, I expected this film to be riddled with cliches, and only watched it because Dominic West is in it, and that in itself makes a film worth watching! However, the film itself was a pleasant surprise. Sandra Bullock, who is usually so likeable and sweet, played the part of Gwen really well, and the process of coming to accept and learn how to beat her demons did not unfold at the breakneck speed which I anticipated. Having never been in a rehab centre, I cannot truthfully say how realistic it was, but it felt believable.
West plays Gwen’s boyfriend Jasper, who is almost certainly as dependant on drugs and alcohol as she is, but not being the one who is sentenced to rehab, does not take any time to look at his own life. If there is a villain of the piece, he is probably it, but in truth, Jasper is not so much a bad person, as irresponsible and unrealistic about what a sober life means for Gwen. I thought West did a very good job in a not especially likeable role. Viggo Mortensen also provided great support as Eddie, a professional baseball player who is also in rehab, and Steve Buscemi was excellent (if slightly under-used) in an uncharacteristically sombre role as a counsellor at the centre.
The story bounced along nicely, and there were a few genuinely moving moments (I definitely had tears in my eyes a couple of times). The only character who I felt was over-the-top, and who seemed to be there only to provide comic relief was Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk) as an apparently sex-obsessed fellow patient. Although his monologue about forks in the road and forks in general was quite funny – more so when you realise that Tudyk actually improvised that scene.
Overall, well worth watching – it’s an entertaining, sometimes moving film, with a great cast.
Year of release: 2000
Director: Betty Thomas
Producers: Jenno Topping, Celia Costas
Writer: Susannah Grant
Main cast: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Azura Skye, Steve Buscemi, Alan Tudyk, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Margo Martindale
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