Eight Days a Week

Michael Davis hits the nail right on the head when it comes to the complexities of the teen mind, mainly focusing on lust (on the lighter side), sexual frustration and determination.

It takes place during the last free summer of a likable teen (a great Josh Schaffer). Inspired from a tale his grandpa Nono tells him, he sets out to win the affection of his life-long crush Erica (Keri Russell)by spending every minute of his summer on her front lawn. His task is not easy, as he must confront her bully boyfriend Nick (Johnny Green) and earn some respect from his father.

There is rather brilliant writing and direction by Michael Davis with characters who are all complex in their own way and great acting to match them (R.D. Robb steals the show in an ingenious performance).

There are some misfired jokes such as scenes involving an overly religious girl who plays with nun dolls (not offensive, just not very funny).

Nonetheless, 8 DAYS A WEEK is a little gem from Davis who unfortunately didn't match success with 2000's 100 GIRLS.

I, like many others, wouldn't have ever seen this movie if not for late night cable. I don't recall ever hearing about this movie come out in 97. The movie did have humorous moments, but I think what I enjoyed most were the interactions between Peter and his best friend. I found the general premise a little silly, but I couldn't say I had major problems with the movie. I don't think the movie was intended to be filled with cleverly subtle jokes but rather of a more basic humor. It lacked a certain credibility automatically for being a teen movie,but that's sort of how the cookie crumbles. Anyway, I don't think it was the funniest movie ever, as others found, but it wasn't torture to watch either. I don't think I'd ever have told anyone to rent or pay for a ticket to watch this, but I'd be slow to change the channel.

Although I would never call this movie a masterpiece, and I don't care to own it, I was surprised by its quality. You might say that if one's expectations are low enough, anything can seem surprisingly good, but if your expectations are that low you wouldn't rent the movie to begin with.

Although this movie didn't begin its life as a stage play, it easily could have as 90 percent of it is shot in the front yard of the character played by Keri Russell. The movie is reminiscent of John Cusak's "The Sure Thing" for the way it shamelessly admires the body and beauty of Keri Russell. And much of the humor recalls "There's Something About Mary" and "American Pie."

I do have a complaint, though, for the way the filmmaker makes buffoons out of Keri Russell's Christian parents. The consensus in Hollywood is that serious Christians are pathetic hypocrites who have no understanding or tolerance for others. Whoever made this movie must be a particularly virulent example of the Hollywood Christian-loather considering the extent to which he makes foolish villains out of Keri Russell's parents.

A film that I'd never heard of and chanced upon by accident, Eight Days a Week deserves to be a mainstay of teen cinema in the same way that John Hughes' eighties work is.

Joshua Schaeffer has just the right balance of geek and cool individualism to pull off a character that could very easily fall into stalker territory and R.D. Robb is excellent as his sex-obsessed sidekick; keeping what could very easily become a caricature grounded in reality. The supporting cast of oddballs never overshadow the main story, but equally don't feel like padding as we learn more about their slightly kooky lives.

It's a shame that films like this go unnoticed in a world where much more crass attempts at summing up teenage life (complete with thirty year old actors) can become box office hits.

it seems like the only method of distribution the filmmakers or whatever did was sell this movie to cable networks to be played at late night when no one watches,except,for me. This movie is not good,but not horrible. I,am a teenager,and even though I really hate teen comedies,this one was above the scale in intelligence,but the humor was way too elementary for most perverted teens in my opinion. The only funny part was when Peter discovered Kerri Russell's dads sculpture of the weird looking Jesus Christ. And if you're going to have so much comedy about sex,why not actually show some nudity? I would not recommend to rent,but to watch at late night if you're really bored,