Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Ah, Jack Nicholson. What a great actor he is. So full of energy and life, always giving it all in every roll he gets, even the bad ones. In the Shining and Batman he made us terrified and captivated us with his menace. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he touched us with his warm humanity. Winner of no less than three Academy Awards (and deserving four), few actors can claim to have had so big an impact on the world of Hollywood.

As you can probably tell I was definitely in the mood for Jack tonight. In a bit of a somber tone right around Easter, I decided to pick up what is one of his more famous dramatic roles in As Good as it Gets. I’d heard a lot about this movie, and seen all the spoofs (and there are a lot!) so I decided it was high time I finally see what all the fuss was about. Like my last review over Paths of Glory, I expected greatness and was very worried about being disappointed. I shouldn’t have concerned myself. The title says it all. This film really, truly is, as good as it gets.

We are introduced to Melvin Udall. Melvin is a cranky, old man who lives by himself in an apartment next to an artist with a little dog he smothers with love. He is also very intelligent, very perceptive and a brilliant writer. By the way, did I mention he was an obsessive compulsive. The smallest thing out of place or out of synch in his day is enough to drive him crazy.

Melvin spends his days alone, attacking anyone who comes near him with the ruthless cut of his wit. He only goes out to eat everyday at a nearby restaurant, where he insists that the same waitress Carol Connelly serve him each day, and gets very mad when it doesn’t happen.

This has been going on for years, and Carol wonders why it is that this weird man seems to have such a fascination with her. Carol has a young son, who gets sick very easy. She’s taken him to every doctor that she knows, but is always given to worst doctors available because she is poor, and unable to do anything about it. Carol’s son is very sick, and could die if not treated carefully.

Melvin is oblivious to all this, until his artistic neighbor is one day beaten up, and he is forced to look after his dog. Melvin is initially very angry, but grows very fond of the dog, something his neighbor is unable to understand. Having surmounted one crisis, Melvin is shocked to find that Carol had to take a day off work to care for her sick son. Terrified at this change, he goes to her house and asks her why she wont come to work. Carol, frustrated and tired throws him away.

Melvin then decides to help her, and pulls some strings to see to it that Carol’s son gets the treatment he needs. Carol is flabbergasted, and all Melvin asks for in return is that she come with him on a trip with his artistic neighbor. Carol and Melvin must now sort out their conflicted and confused feelings for each other, all the while struggling to sort out what they want in life.

This is a fine plot for a dramatic comedy, and indeed, this is one of the best. The plot manages to be very entertaining, heartfelt, witty and insightful. All the characters in the movie are nicely fleshed out and realistic. Each of them has significant character flaws, from Melvin’s crankiness and weirdness, to Carol’s nervousness and desire for help, to Simon’s (Melvin’s neighbor) inability to find inspiration. This multi dimensionalness makes us care about the characters, and their plight, and also allows us to suspend our realism. Also, in a wise move, the plot never strays far from the three central characters. This is a wise move. For one, it shows the common isolation of all three of them, and for another, there is a lot to say in this movie. It would have been needlessly difficult if other characters were included.

The dialogue is the best thing about the script however. It is at times tremendously funny, (especially when Nicholson has to say a line) and this humor helps speed up the pace and keep the flow up. At the same time it is touching, inspiring and just plain old nice to hear. When Melvin explains that Carol makes him “want to be a better man” we get the sense that we are hearing one of those classic lines that will go down in film history. All the characters are likeable, funny and entertaining in their own way, and we never get bored listening or watching any of them.

The costuming is excellent. Lots of nice, soft, easy colours that are gentle on the eyes, and pleasant to view. Sky blues, whites, tans, oranges. It is really pleasant on the eye. And the city scapes are quite nice as well. They really did a good job capturing the motion and the energy of a big city, that once more adds to the great realism.

The acting is naturally superb. Jack Nicholson does a great job playing the odd, quirky Melvin. It Is a far cry from some of his more eccentric, psychotic roles, but he plays Melvin with equal skill. He manages to be tremendously funny and witty (no one plays em like Jack) while at the same time having an excellent human center and emotion that he lacked in even some of his best roles (like the Shining) He is frankly the best thing about this film.

Helen Hunt also does a great job as Helen. She’s made a good living playing these piteous, poor, working class mother/wives, and she is very good in her role. She also manages to be funny, while at the same time never losing touch of her characters inner emotion. But the best thing about her is her realism. While with Nicholson you sometimes even know it’s an act (you just don’t care) with Helen, it is all serious and that is perfectly cool.

Greg Kinnear plays his role as the artistic, slightly fruity Simon with equal relish. Roles like that can be difficult, but Kinnear manages to capture the soul of an artist, and makes it funny. A job very well done.

The score is one of the worst things about this movie. Overall, it is unfortunately quite uninspiring and at times even bland. I can’t honestly even remember it that well, and that itself should be a testament to how blah it is. I was quite disappointed, because good music would have been the icing on the cake for me. I love a good score.

The direction by James L. Brooks is quite good as well. Brooks stays hidden for the most part, except for a number of well places arcs and tracking shots. His directing style is very soft and easy going, yet you can see the love lying beneath each shot (probably because L. Brooks wrote the screenplay as well) He knows what needs to be shown, and he shows it with a lot of skill that is easy to look at and absorb. Job well done.

As Good as it Gets was an excellent film, with a few flaws that keep it from achieving full greatness. It is good as just entertainment, as something a bit deeper or even just for any man wanting to know how to compliment a woman. Very well done indeed.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older