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As Good As It Gets Customer Reviews (25 - 27 of 68 Reviews)

I love it!
What a fantastically arrogant film title! These are my kind of people. They are proud of their film and to heck with modesty. I feel an affinity with these guys. I am brilliant, of that there can be no doubt, but if I say it, suddenly I'm being called arrogant! I applaud their courage.
The film wasn't actually very good though, so I think they should be careful about talking themselves up too much.


For once I agree with the critics.
As Good As It Gets is a 1997 romantic comedy directed by James L Brooks, starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.

Nicholson plays the role of Melvin, an often rude, obsessive-compulsive, reclusive romance novelist. The film revolves around Melvin's interaction with his neighbors and his "favorite" waitress (who is so, because she is the only person in the restaurant that will serve him), Carol, played by Helen Hunt. An example of his harsh personality can be gleaned from one of my favorite lines from the movie "Sell Crazy Some Place Else, Where all Stocked up Here!"

Melvin frequents a local restaurant and has the same breakfast daily. He leads a relatively routine life when it's turned upside down because he is forced to take care of his gay neighbor's dog (Verdell), and eventually the gay neighbor. Simon, the gay neighbor portrayed by Greg Kinnear is an artist. Simon is violently attacked and robbed by one of his models, and is forced to ask Melvin for help.

During the course of Melvin's interactions, he is forced to confront his feelings about homosexuality, racism, and sexist attitudes. One of my favorite scenes involves Melvin and Frank (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr). Frank has asked Melvin to watch after Verdell while Simon is in the hospital. Melvin makes a few terse remarks, then refuses. Frank, threatening bodily harm refuses to take no for an answer, and for the first time in the movie, you seem Melvin "back down" to someone.

While As Good As It Gets has several politically incorrect lines, in the end, that's what makes this film so good. You are enthralled as you watch Melvin grow as a person, and may find yourself "rooting" for him in the end. It's worth the 2 hours it takes to watch the entire movie. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Sell Crazy Some Place Else, Where all Stocked up Here!
"Sell crazy some place else, where all stocked up here" is one of many of Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) insults to the people around him. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, "As Good As It Gets" became one of the big hits of 1997, as a romantic comedy. Melvin is a very successful novelist who is also a harsh unkind man who is suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) is a single mother who befriends Nicholson's offensive character and Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear) is the gay neighbor who is confronted with hard times in life.

Melvin, with his obsessive-compulsive behavior, goes to his diner every morning to eat breakfast without stepping on a crack or without touching a soul. He is the type of person who will bring his own silverware to the diner to eat breakfast, because he is afraid to use someone else's utensils. He must always sit in the same seat and have the same waitress Carol (Helen Hunt), who is the only one that will serve him. Carol and Melvin become close to each other in a weird hate-love relationship.

Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear) is the gay neighbor who is at the blunt end of most of Melvin's insults and whose dog Verdell is sent down the garbage chute by Melvin to stop its barking. After Simon is beaten and robbed by one of his art posing subjects, none of his friends came to care for him and he lost all interest in his art. Simon's dog Verdell has been taken in by Melvin, reluctantly though, and develops a strong bond to him while Simon is in the hospital. At the same time Carol has taken time off from the diner to care for her ill son. Panic-stricken, Melvin learns about this when he comes to the diner to eat breakfast and she isn't there to serve him. Melvin being obsessive pays the bills for Carol's son to have better doctors and treatment, so that she can come back to work.

With insult after insult from Melvin in almost every scene of this 139 minute film, it will be hard not to laugh out loud. You see throughout this film Melvin, Carol, and Greg learn respect for each other in their struggles they go through and become closer friends. With Helen and Greg bringing the tone down of Nicholson's obsessive-compulsive character this movie is one you definitely must see.

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