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As Good As It Gets Customer Reviews (7 - 9 of 68 Reviews)

As Good As It Gets (1997)
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Shirley Knight, Yeardling Smith.
Running Time: 139 minutes
Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language, thematic elements, nudity and a beating.

"As Good As It Gets" is a superb portrayal of a man, Melvin Udall (played marvelously by Jack Nicholson) with a debilitating condition that restricts his daily life and interactions. From the beginning of the movie we can tell that Melvin is somewhat off; he uses a brand new bar of soap every time he washes his hands, he won't step on cracks when walking down the street, he brings his own silverware to restaurants and he is obsessed with cleanliness. Also, Melvin lacks any control over social grace and tact, such as being very self-entered and blurting out rude comments that most people would refrain from. He compulsively engages in these activities. He is bound to his daily routine, which include going to a certain restaurant, being waited on by a certain waitress Carol (played by Helen Hunt), and ordering the same meal. The movie starts to take shape when his routine is disrupted when "his" waitress does not show up for work one day. He becomes very rude to the new waitress and rudely tells her to get Carol so he can eat his food and go along with his routine. Melvin attempts to contact Carol at her home and even pays for her sick son's medical treatment just so she can get back to work and Melvin can get his routine back, all the way dog-sitting for his incredibly inconvenient gay artist neighbor (Greg Kinnear in a superb supporting role).

As Good As It Gets" boasts a splendid, delightful combination of wonderful, zesty acting and a remarkably bright and effective screenplay. Jack Nicholson is pitch-perfect as the obsessive-compulsive curmudgeon Melvin Udall, who possesses some of the strangest and most curious tendencies ever concocted by screenwriters; his Udall is so human, so heartfelt, so genuine, and so whimsical and Nicholson perfects him to such a degree that not a moment of his screen time is unwanted or uninteresting: in my valid opinion, this is Nicholson's best performance of his career, and one of the most reverent performances in film history. What an engaging, enthralling story: an troubled, insecure man helps a troubled, insecure waitress (troubled and insecure in different respects), and the two form an unlikely relationship from being distant acquaintances (Hunt even exclaims that Nicholson is crazy in their most uncomfortable moment in the film) to practical soul mates (Nicholson to Hunt: "I feel that I'm the only person that knows that you are the greatest woman alive"), through a series of misfortunes, self-explorations, and mutual bondings. Kinnear's character Simon has the distinct purpose in being both the bridge and the divider of Nicholson and Hunt's relationship, and he identifies with his character with compassion and understanding, as he has frequently been wronged throughout his existence. The most curious aspect to a story such as this, involving such unduly, diverse characters: a miserable recluse, a zesty, yet insecure waitress, and a sensitive and insightful, yet wronged homosexual, is that in their distinct differences, they share many of the same problems, and these problems eventually bring them all together, although hardly in a civilized manner. Director James L. Brooks splendidly created this delightful masterpiece of exemplary romantic comedy, in its indelible acting (Oscars well deserved), its whimsical, touching screenplay (which arguably surpasses "Good Will Hunting" quality) and its comforting morale, that despite all of the great odds in life which prevent us from being happy, we can perhaps find it within ourselves to take that one important step in reversing our fortunes, in "stopping with taking pills" and to allow our lives, and our desires to shine and be realized, as this story depicts life. The best romantic comedy, certainly one of the best films of 1997, "As Good As It Gets" succeeds in practically every entertaining and endearing cinematic respect.

Always look on the bright side of your life.
Melvin is a famous author, writer of over sixty books. He lives at an apartment in new york city. There's only one thing that stands in his way of being a nice guy: Himself. He's an obessive-compulsive, superstitious, dog-hating, wise-talking, mean-spirited, germaphobic, angry, cranky, vindictive, clean freak, taunter, politcally incorrect, psycho, nut, ego maniac who just can't get over himself. He eats at the same resturant every day where his favorite waitress will come and put up with him. There is also is neigbhor who gets mocked and made fun of by melvin almost everyday. Until the day when his neighbhor gets beaten up and his waitress is at home taking care of her sick boy. Now he's got nobody to make fun of and no one that'll take his crap. His whole glorious world of being miserable is falling apart.

Not only does he have to help his neighbor but he also has to hire a doctor to get the waitress's boy fixed up. And all the while trying to be mean about it which is, of course, impossible. Or so we think. After all . . .it's Melvin . . .a guy that locks his doors five times and that will wash his hands with scolding hot water and twenty bars of soap.

Now, he's out to make things right . . .or at least make it halfway there. The waitress, played by helen hunt, is extremely grateful but extremly confused by melvin. Could there be love in store for melvin?

Filled with heartwarming moments, funny snappy dialogue, comedic moments, and good old jack nicholson atittude.

This is one story that answers the all time question:

"What if this is as good as it gets?"

Well, as a movie buff, I sure hope so.

Enjoy!



Jackie boy never fails and this one is a must see.
I love all comedy of jack Nicholson and loved this movie!
Ruth, Phoenix

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