In 40 Dates and 40 Nights, love is on the menu.
Now available on VOD/Digital, 40 Dates and 40 Nights tells the story of Leah (Bailee Madison), a young woman who’s struggling to find love (and pay her rent). Though she’s had her own slew of sexual partners, she still hasn’t found anyone that really brings out her best.
And this leads her grandmother Gigi (Annie Potts) to issue a challenge. Gigi believes that love is out there for her favourite granddaughter and, if Leah goes on 40 consecutive dates, she believes that romance will spark. However, if not, Gigi will pay Leah’s rent and student debt. With only time to lose, Leah accepts the terms. Everything seems to be going in Leah’s favour until she meets Mason (Joel Courtney), an abrasive young man who threatens to prove Gigi right.
Directed by Andy Delaney, 40 Dates is a sweet reminder why the classic romcom genuinely still has the power to charm. With heart and humour, there’s something utterly delightful about these misadventures in the dating pool. Yes, it’s predictable and leans into familiar tropes but that’s honestly embedded into the genre itself. We know quickly who the mismatched couple will be by the end but, dangit, it works really well.
Admittedly, much of the credit for the film lies with its central couple (and, again, this isn’t a surprise). Romcoms have always lived or died on the chemistry between its leads and, with Madison and Courtney in the forefront, the film utterly thrives. As the one searching for love, Madison never loses her confident demeanour. Mowing through her list of men, she’s determined never to settle for less than the right partner (and, frankly, never thinks she’ll find one because of it).
At the same time, Courtney steps in with humble masculinity as the potential (mis)match. He brings an affability to the role that reveals both authenticity and self-awareness. He’s not perfect. But he’s also honest.
But together? They simply light up the screen. There’s a heartwarming trust between the two performers that makes them feel connected, even when they’re fighting. That’s the gold standard of any romcom and 40 Dates has the necessary sparks to give the film life. (Though, it’s also worth noting that Potts is also utterly delightful in her limited screentime.) These sorts of films have always been meant to feel like a world of fantasy, even if grounded in real life. But that’s what makes the chemistry between leads so important. If we don’t believe the performance between them, we’ll never believe the eventual outcomes.
‘Stuff like [this] doesn’t happen in real life’, Leah points out.
But that’s exactly the point. The set-ups for romcoms need to be heightened and often silly in order for us to believe that love does happen in real life. Leah doesn’t want to dive into dating apps anymore because they always let her down. In fact, she takes on her grandmother’s challenge solely as a way to pay the rent. She believes that she’s looking for something unattainable.
But 40 Dates is a reminder that love isn’t a perfectly straight line. It’s bumpy and exposes our own imperfections. It points to the fact that no one ‘checks every box’ but that finding someone that doesn’t, somehow doesn’t mean settling. What matters is support, care and, most importantly, genuine emotional connection between two people.
And, frankly, that feels… real.
Even in the midst of its goofy premise, there’s something genuine at the heart of these two performances that can make the viewer believe in the existence of love. But that’s, ultimately what the romcom is supposed to do. Amidst the bad potential mates to the stereotypical side characters, these films are supposed to point to love as something that feels unique and special. But, also, something meant to be found.
In the end, 40 Dates and 40 Nights isn’t going to be on any awards shows. However, it’s not trying to be anything that it isn’t either. Backed by wonderful performances by its leads, this is a throwback film that puts love on the menu in a way that is genuinely endearing. And, for those looking for a night of sweet romance, it’s almost as delicious as the bruschetta seems to be.
40 Dates and 40 Nights is available on VOD/Digital on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026.
