Baking & the Big Screen: Bagels and 40 Days and 40 Nights
One thing I never expected to do with my life was google “movies with bagels" but here we are. I also never expected there to be an IMDB list for exactly what I was looking for, and when I saw 40 Days and 40 Nights and remembered what that movie was about, I was moderately terrified as to how bagels were utilized. Thankfully, it was just that there was a character literally called The Bagel Guy, and my plan for this month’s baking and movie combo was good to go. The movie was enjoyable enough and the bagels were delicious (and a super simple recipe), even if somehow I managed to shape them horribly. I feel like I’ve been lucky so far with all my combinations and I’m eventually going to run out of “easy” ones but for now, I’m going to enjoy the opportunity to try making bagels.
40 Days and 40 Nights
Starring Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo, Adam Trese and Vinessa Shaw
Director: Michael Lehmann
Released in 2002
Available to watch on HBO Max
I am always a bit wary when my movie “travels” take me to an older romantic comedy. A lot of them have now-outdated tropes and/or moments that are basically harassment repackaged as affection. Shockingly, considering this movie is about a man who gives up all physical aspects of a relationship for Lent, this was one of the romcoms I’ve seen that aged moderately well. The outdated tech (if you watch or rewatch this, pay close attention to any websites that show up on computers) is truly laughable, but the object of Josh Hartnett’s affection - who I’ve only ever seen in her role in A Knight’s Tale and was thrilled to see in something else - is absolutely adorable and doesn’t seem attracted to being treated like crap. I can actually root for this couple, which is not always possible.
The issues I had with this movie are probably more personal than technical. I was rolling my eyes pretty quickly when the plot quickly turns to a bunch of this guy’s so-called friends are betting on his inability to not sleep with someone for forty days, which feels like it should not be that difficult to do. And that leads me to the real problem I had with it - these really crappy “friends.” They’re the epitome of doofus boys who seem to only think with one head at a time, and hardly any of them seem to have any personality outside of wanting to get laid or bet money on someone else getting laid. If the main romance hadn’t been so enjoyable to watch, I’m not sure I would have been as pro-this movie. Thankfully, they knew what they were doing with the chemistry of the two leads and fully saved the film with that.
You may notice from the picture that my bagels are not going to win a beauty pageant. On the plus side, technically, these bagels turned out perfectly. The problem only comes from me misjudging the size each dough-ball needed to be before shaping so I pulled dough from one ball and tried to meld it with another, only to find out it doesn’t work that way. Now that I know that, I’m absolutely going to be able to make these prettier next time. My first one was enjoyed with some cheese spread and ham, and it was exactly how I wanted a bagel to be. For only having a handful of ingredients and not a ton of work, I’m thrilled with how they came out. I already can’t wait to make them again, which will probably be happening next month, even without a bagel-themed moment in a movie.