Handsome 20-something web designer Matt Sullivan (Josh Hartnett) has been hurt in love and relationships once too often.

His heart has been broken countless times, yet he still yearns for a constant companion.

Inspired by his trainee priest brother (Adam Trese), Matt decides to honour Lent by giving up sex for 40 days - even refraining from foreplay, kissing and touching.

At first, Matt believes he is in complete control, but when he meets the woman of his dreams, Erica (Shannyn Sossamon), in the local laundrette, his resistance begins to waver.

Sex-obsessed roommate Ryan (Paulo Costanzo) is horrified by the vow of chastity, and tells all of Matt's colleagues about the extraordinary pledge.

They respond by setting up a website, offering the public the chance to take part in a sweepstake to guess when Matt will succumb.

Female employees take to wearing short skirts and molesting Matt, while other people aren't averse to spiking his drink with Viagra.

With his friends betting that he can't last, Matt struggles to keep his urges in check, and prays that sexy Erica will be willing to hold on too.

40 Days and 40 Nights sounds a lot funnier on paper than on the big screen.

The central flaw is Matt's lack of personality - heaven knows why a feisty minx like Erica would be willing to wait around for such a drip.

Hartnett's failure to capitalise on his rising star status leaves the way clear for the supporting players to steal the show.

Costanzo is manic and odious and Vinessa Shaw suitably icy as Matt's ex-girlfriend who believes she knows how to push all the right buttons.

Best of all is Griffin Dunne as Matt's boss, who tries to reignite his marriage by following Matt's chaste example.

But humour is unsophisticated and wears perilously thin, just as it did in Kevin & Perry Go Large.

Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo, Adam Trese, Vinessa Shaw, Griffin Dunne star.

DS