Before seeing this film, I had believed that "Titanic" was the most over-rated film of 1997. But I was wrong. That honor belongs to "As Good As It Gets", which falls far short of the title's promise.
Demonstrating the importance of casting, the romantic comedy racked up seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay (Mark Andrus and James L. Brooks, the latter also directing). Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt withstood the wave of "Titanic" publicity to win Best Actor and Best Actress. Greg Kinnear, surviving the debacle of 1996's "Dear God", snared a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
Had anyone other than Nicholson been cast in
the lead, the film would probably not have
been made, much less been a huge success.
His character is detestable, hissing out
insults at every opportunity with a coldly
deadpan expression. His comments could be
considered racist, sexist, or antigay if
taken singly, but a pattern emerges that he
says whatever comes to mind that will most
offend the listener. At any rate, they are
supposed to be funny or witty, but if you
met this man, you wouldn't think so and you
would keep your distance. This being a
movie, the main characters fail to take this
obvious advice and continue to walk into
Nicholson's verbal buzzsaw.
Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a prolific
novelist whose success has not extended
to his personal life. Friendless, his
human contact consists of alienating his
neighbors and paying a daily visit to a
busy restaurant, where his no-nonsense
waitress is played by Helen Hunt. Udall's
neighbors include painter Simon (Greg
Kinnear), whose meek, sensitive performance
reinforces gay stereotypes. Udall falls
for both Hunt and Simon's ugly dog, and
succeeds in keeping them in his life
through acts of uncharacteristic generosity.
This proves once again that money can buy
love, as long as you are also able to
occasionally admit what a jerk you are.
As in "Twister", Hunt has a gratuitous
bathing scene. She is attractive as always,
but her character is easy to play and
perhaps too understanding. She may be
devoted to her sickly son, but his character
is virtually written out of the film.
Cuba Gooding Jr is an entertaining supporting
actor, but he doesn't have enough scenes
either. (31/100)
This offbeat comedy centers around the unlikely bond that forms betweenthree New Yorkers who don't appear to have a chance in hell at realhappiness. A...More at HotMovieSale.com
Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding, Jr., star in James L. Brooks hit comedy, AS GOOD AS IT GETS. Nicholson gives a show-stoppin...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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