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.

A "coming of age" story of people who are learning to grow up at an older age

Moving story about not only a woman who gets thrown into rehab, but also who has repressed her feelings, her life and finds herself maturing into an adult after drinking her younger life away. When she first gets into rehab, it's not only a typical scene that one might see in a rehab facility, but also one where, since the stunting of her emotional, responsible and relationship senses are that of a young, out of control child who raised herself. Through the movie, she learns how to be alive, how to be sensitive, that the man she thought was so great for her isn't at all and why, and she gets the beginnings of how to grow, get in touch with not only her feelings, but learns what is not good for her and to walk away. She learns to ask for help from those who are healthy and to walk from those who are not, slowly, and through a process that we can only wish some people would get, yet without the tragedy (although that's how some people must learn it, as for some they simply don't see it until they really hurt someone (or even kills them in some people's lives.)

This isn't only a good story for alcoholics or drug addicts, but also one for those who haven't grown up as adults for whatever reason. To learn that people make mistakes, to learn that human touch and feelings are really what life is about, not the girl or guy with the nice suit or those who are trying to make an appearance of having money, "friends", or the potential of the mansion on the hill, the so-called "Glamorous life." She grows to see through all the BS and get real with herself, get in touch with her feelings, realize that being able to be vulnerable is the best gift she can not only give to herself, but also to those around her, and she learns not only how to be a friend to others, but how to recognize who her friends really are.

Great flick they outta show and discuss in high schools and colleges (although there are some parts that are graphic - drug use, etc., but then if we are real about it, most kids are seeing this stuff to one degree or another anyhow!)

The lessons in this movie come SO late in life for some people, and for some not at all, living lives that are akward, fake, idealized, but then these people never really are happy on the inside, nor do they know how to really connect with other people. An awesome gift for someone who needs to grow before they can really feel what it is to have a family relationship, a true friend, a real life and be happy with who they really are (weather they hide in anxiety, drugs, alcohol, self-indulgence, or whatever it is that keeps them from being who they really are and not trying to put on a mask to feel OK or better than others. To simply be happy with who they are - monetarily rich or poor, healthy or sick, no matter what it is that they are trying to escape by the egotistical "look at me, look at my [whatever], look at what I have" syndrome that keeps SO many people from true happiness, and is sad to watch, as these people don't really feel, are not in touch with their feelings, and miss out on what life is really about and unfortunately often times self-medicate with alcohol, drugs, sex, gossip, talking to others as though they don't know anything (the "know it all" syndrome) whatever to make themselves feel good about themselves, and that often has other people who are centered in their lives dropping them by the wayside, as they don't care for the drama.

"Take Care of the Little Things"

When I began watching this film, I had a sense early on that I might not like it all that much as I thought the character of Gwen and her drunken antics were somewhat overdone, until the scene where she crashes the limo. Such incidents do happen with addicts in denial and unaware of their dangerous behavior while under the influence. As the movie continued, I was impressed with how this film showed a realistic portrait of the events and situations that take place in a rehab facility. There is good humor throughout the film as humor is a needed assett when struggling through difficult times, but there is also debatable explanations on the meaning of life and why people make the choices they do as the scene with Gwen and her boyfriend gives an exchange of two very different outlooks on life. Gwen also comes to take accountability as she discovers the owning up process. The scenes involving her and her sister are touching and believable rather than coming off as forced or sappy, and the supporting characters grow on you despite their issues. Filled with superb writing that lends itself to many moments of laughter, sadness, and positive affrimations that are true to life("Something bigger than us will care and determine our outcomes when we take care of the little things")28 Days is one of the best movies to come around in a long time.

Addiction treated with a light and winning touch!

5 STARS RIGHT OFF!

Some films can be formulaic and their characters fairly predictable thus being the case in the 2000 film 28 DAYS starring Sandra Bullock.What makes this this film so appealing and so important is the correct balance with which Bullock handles her character, the alcoholic,pill addicted, made-a-mess-of-her-life (and everyone elses!)Gwen Cummings.With addiction ruining her life, Gwen enters a rehab for a mandatory 28 days after running a hijacked wedding limo into the living room of a house.She had previously made a complete fool of herself at her sister's wedding by falling backside into the three tiered wedding cake! Bullock allows Gwen to go through all of the stages of denial, regret and final acceptance of her disease with comedic touches and true pain showing both sides of addiction recovery as they are: the blunt reality that you have hit bottom and you may die, but on the other hand "Keep it simple stupid" and "Easy does it.One day at a time." In other hands, this movie about such a serious and life threatening condition might become overly serious,preachy or maudlin; but director Betty Thomas trusts Bullock with the Susannah Grant screenplay to keep Gwen from becoming a joke OR a model of sobriety.

If I had to choose one film that treats addiction without depressing the viewer to no end, then it would be 28 DAYS. Other excellent films such as MY NAME IS JOE, CLEAN AND SOBER, FACTORY GIRL,RAY, AFFLICTION and even NUTS, although completely wonderful films in their own rights, are very heavy handed and can be quite depressing. 28 DAYS embraces the grave subject with a lighter touch that does not bring down the viewer.(REMEMBER: Movies can inform and STILL be entertaining!) The viewer is uplifted and given hope amidst the rocky road to recovery. This is a highly recommended movie on the subject of addiction whether you are an addict, a counselor, someone in 12-step recovery, or someone affected by an addicts behavior.