2000, PG-13, 103 minutes

Don't believe the previews or television commercials that lead you to believe 28 Days is some cute Sandra Bullock romantic comedy. Sure, it has a few of those moments that I like to call "Sandra scenes" (where everything is so cute and happy that you could just puke), but for the most part the film manages to focus on the drug rehab theme, avoiding the cliched romantic angle alltogether.

One of the biggest problems among alcoholics is overcoming the stage of denial. Many alcoholics tend to believe that they are somehow different than all of those "AA freaks" and that they could control themselves if they really wanted to. This is the problem facing Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock), a big-city newspaper columnist hooked on both alcohol and pills. Her addiction is put to the test when a judge sentences her to 28 days at a drug rehab clinic -- punishment for ruining her sister's wedding and causing some severe damage to the surrounding neighborhood. So Gwen goes to a clinic out in the country, where at first she rolls her eyes at the healing methods and group activities. Eventually, after making a complete fool of herself on several occasions, she comes to terms with her problem and embraces the program.

28 Days certainly isn't a great movie, and the message it carries has been delivered before, but it isn't nearly as bad as one might expect. Director Betty Thomas does a good job with a truly light-weight and fluffy story, never pretending that the film is anything more than that. Much like the progressive changes seen in Bullock's character, the tone seems to gradually change over time; it starts off wild and chaotic and slowly gains more composure and control -- just like an alcholic who wakes up with a hang-over and gradually becomes sober as the day moves on. 28 Days greatest achievment is the subtlety in which it carries itself, working in a genre where characters usually ramble on about how bad alcohol is when everyone in the audience already knows this. Far too many films these days tend to treat moviegoers like a bunch of mindless twits, so it's nice to see a film that doesn't.

Although the writing and direction behind 28 Days is solid, Sandra Bullock's subtle performance is what truly carries it. Bullock nails her character at the start of the film as she is completely convincing as an alchoholic in denial about her condition. As her character slowly progresses and becomes aware of the problem, she handles the transitions in a way that you don't even realize anything has changed until it's already happened. This is probably one of Bullock's best performances to date, which unfortunately doesn't say much, although it does hint at the possibility of stronger performances in the future (perhaps she should try something even more serious to avoid being type cast). Viggo Mortensen is believable as a baseball player in rehab despite not having much to do with the plot until the very end (don't worry, that isn't a spoiler), and the other supporting actors are decent in their respective roles.

Even though 28 Days is in no way a romantic comedy and is strictly a drug rehab comedy, it will still appeal to the same handful of moviegoers. If you're willing to let a few eye rolling moments slide, chances are you'll enjoy it... or at least like it more than you thought you would.