28 Days

Details

Gwen likes a drink - or three - and spends many a morning with her boyfriend Jasper wondering exactly what happened the night before. A party is simply not a party without Gwen at its centre. But her carefree lifestyle begins to unravel when she wakes with a hangover on the morning of her sister's wedding and realises she is already running late. The pair frantically get ready and, just for good measure, top up the previous evening's celebrations with a few more shots.

Fuelled by alcohol and misplaced confidence, Gwen soon turns the wedding reception into chaos, culminating in the destruction of the wedding cake. Determined to put things right, she steals a limousine in an alcohol-fuelled attempt to find a replacement. Inevitably, things go badly wrong and she crashes into a house. Though nobody is seriously hurt, Gwen finds herself in court and facing a choice between prison and 28 days in a rehabilitation centre.

Once inside rehab, Gwen initially refuses to accept she has a problem. She challenges the rules, mocks the therapy sessions and treats the experience as a temporary inconvenience. However, through forming friendships with the other patients and under the guidance of her counsellor, she slowly begins to confront the reality of her addiction. What starts as reluctant attendance gradually becomes something far more personal and revealing.

Picture & Sound

The picture is bright and colourful with strong levels of detail throughout. The transfer maintains a healthy bitrate and shows no obvious signs of artefacting, outlining or excessive noise. It is another reliable presentation from Columbia Tri-Star and suits the tone of the film well.

The Dolby Digital soundtrack is solid rather than spectacular, but appropriate for a dialogue-driven drama. Surround usage is occasional yet effective, particularly during party sequences and flashbacks. Most of the film naturally centres on dialogue and this remains clear and well anchored in the centre channel throughout. As always, the Dolby fanfare at the beginning is a welcome reminder of what the format is capable of.

Menu & Extras

The menus are attractively presented and well scored, although navigation occasionally feels slightly clumsy. The disc includes a reasonable selection of extras, highlighted by a director's commentary which offers insight into the balance between drama and humour in tackling such a sensitive subject.

The additional footage and deleted scenes provide a little more depth to certain characters, though none dramatically alter the story. The Moment by Moment featurette is a thoughtful look behind the scenes, while the inclusion of an episode of the fictional soap "Santa Cruz" is either a clever in-joke or unintentionally dreadful - it is hard to tell which.

The light-hearted How To Build a Gum Wrapper Chain guide and the Guitar Guy material add a quirky touch, while the isolated score will appeal to those who appreciate the film's musical choices. Overall, the extras complement the film reasonably well without ever feeling excessive.

Overall

Although primarily a drama dealing with addiction and recovery, 28 Days manages to blend humour and honesty in a way that prevents it from becoming overly heavy. Sandra Bullock delivers a strong performance, capturing both the arrogance and vulnerability of Gwen with conviction. The supporting cast also contribute warmth and authenticity to the rehabilitation setting.

The subject matter is handled with respect, avoiding melodrama while still acknowledging the seriousness of addiction. Director Betty Thomas maintains a careful balance between light and dark moments, ensuring the film remains engaging without trivialising its themes.

It is unfortunate that the film did not make a greater impact at the cinema, as it rewards repeat viewing and offers more depth than its premise might initially suggest. For those seeking a character-driven drama with moments of genuine humour, this is well worth adding to the collection.

Special features

• Additional Footage
• Deleted Scenes
• Director's Commentary
• Filmographies
• "How To Build a Gum Wrapper Chain" Instruction Guide
• Isolated Score
• "Moment by Moment" Featurette
• Theatrical Trailer