Which version of Crystal?
I would try getting the SQL that Crystal has generated and running it in SQL Server Management Studio or Toad, etc. Run it for the January date range and then for the February date range. If there is a significant difference in the run times, this will indicate that the issue is in the database. If not, then there is an issue with the report. If the issue is with the report, please post the formula from the Select Expert - I'd like to see if there's anything there that would cause the data filters to process in memory instead of in the database.
-Dell