DVD Movie Review – As Good as it Gets

Starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Greg Kinnear

Jul 16, 2009

As Good as it Gets is a delightfully funny character-driven story, starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.

Jack Nicholson plays Melvin, a novelist who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, in more than one form. Melvin’s attitude toward others is less than polite, to say the least. He is rude, arrogant, obnoxious – but for all his wicked ways, he is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. This endearing side to Melvin’s persona is fuelled by his willingness to be open about his thoughts and feelings, no matter the cost.

Melvin is badgered – rather, threatened – into delivering a small, single act of kindness that will test his heart and soul. The result is a thrilling ride into the world and relationships of this highly eccentric, but adorable character.

Melvin - a Soft Side

Helen Hunt performs the role of Carol, a local café/restaurant waitress who brings a strong and emotionally contrasting dynamic to Melvin’s beliefs, and his way of life.

Carol is Melvin's regular lunchtime waitress, so when she is nowhere to be seen - taking time off due to her son's poor health - Melvin is devastated. Fascinatingly, he has difficulty in functioning around his familiar routine. In an effort to bring harmonious balance to his obsessive-compulsive side, Melvin funds private medical treatment for Carol's son, thus allowing her to return to work and wait upon him once more. What's striking about this is, although Carol is overcome with joyous emotion and (after initially giving Melvin a hard time) is inclined to write a pages-long letter of thanks for, quite literally, changing her family's lives, Melvin is merely pleased to have his old waitress back, so everything is 'normal', despite the huge costs of the medical bills. In truth, Melvin is uncomfortable with Carol thanking him, and tries to avoid all sentiment. This is a recurring trait of Melvin's throughout the film. This hard and abusive character reveals a shockingly kind and caring side, and his peers warm to him, observing and commenting on his hidden pleasant nature, but Melvin resists. He always hits back with yet another insult, almost dissolving the characters' natural progress with each other, only for Melvin to bounce back and show more love through that bitter mask he wears. It is an intriguing depiction of 'wants' contrasting with 'needs'.

Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Screen-Chemistry

Helen Hunt’s overall response to Jack Nicholson’s oddball behaviour and ludicrous, often insulting, observations is priceless comedy. Nicholson portrays Melvin’s lovable insanity with perfect timing and subtle facial expressions. The actors gel extremely well together, and their bright, quirky dialogue is convincing, and as cringe-worthy as it is funny.

Humour and Characters

Melvin's gay neighbour Simon, like Carol, brings out a multitude of personality traits and offenses in Melvin, some grand and some not so. It goes further than anticipated when Melvin introduces the two as ‘Carol the waitress, Simon the fag.’ Just brilliant!

But there is genuine love and affection between these larger than life characters, and there is the traditional journey, within themselves, and with each other.

Melvin is a multi-dimensional character with such foulness, beauty, vulgarity, and divinity, that to watch his journey in As Good is it Gets is simply to watch modern man's place in new western society, with 'conditions' a dime a dozen,. and the pills for those conditions readily available, and importantly, life-style choices - like homosexuality - and responses to it, especially the responses of the ageing generation who may be set in their ways. And, as Anything Goes in this day and age, so does it in the lives of these characters, who are only human, and so unnecessarily complicate things for themselves.

The complexity of the human emotions involved is instantly engaging, making As Good as it Gets a sophisticated, uplifting comedy. The thin and sketchy resolve surrounding the romantic interest is a welcome refreshment in a world where films tends to insist on a final shot of a boy and a girl holding hands and walking off into the sunset.

Key Line

As Good as it Gets - 1998. Directed by James L. Brooks.

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