Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining but Flawed
Review: I enjoyed this DVD for the most part, but I was very disappointed with Helen Hunt's acting. She was clearly mis-cast in this role & even though she apparently had countless retakes of key scenes she still could not bring herself upto the level of her co-stars. I think with a real actress in her place this could have been a real gem of a movie. I watched this DVD three or four times & it got to the point where I had to fast-forward past some of her dialogue because her ineptitude became increasingly irritating with each viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible, predictable fluff
Review: This, along with "The Matrix," provided two of the least enjoyable movies that I can remember sitting through. The story was very predictable, and tediously told. Avoid this unless you only enjoy the very lightest of fluff.
Rating: 
Summary: "As Good As It Gets" is Just About That
Review: I almost always start off with the strong points of whatever I'm reviewing, and then mention the weaker points later. For some reason, I want to do the reverse here, possibly because the weak-list is very short and I want to get it out of the way: 1) Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt as a romantic couple is so implausible that I did not go to see this movie in the theaters, and I'll bet I'm not alone; 2) Maybe I'm dense, but it took me a long time to pick up on the fact that Nicholson's character wrote ROMANCE novels; 3) This plot is not new (but is any plot?); 4) Some of the profanity seemed gratuitous. Many movies seem to throw in a F#$% or a S^&* or three just to get the more mature rating to convince adults that the movie isn't a kiddie movie. Of course, I'm not from New York and might be listening through Midwestern ears.Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's get on to the fun part. Nicholson's portrayal of the curmudgeonly recluse was superb. He also portrayed obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as Dustin Hoffman portrayed Asperger's Disorder in "Rain Man". I can say this with some authority, as I am a clinical psychologist and have worked with clients with OCD (and others with Asperger's). Helen Hunt's portrayal of an over-worked but surviving waitress who is preoccupied with the physical ailments of her son was just as noteworthy. Both deserved their Oscars. Greg Kinnear deserved his Oscar, but unfortunately didn't get it. Kinnear played Nicholson's gay artist neighbor like a real person, and not like a gay-artist-neighbor. The dog also deserved an Oscar, as I've never seen an actor (actress?) play a role so expressively. I hope he/she won the animal equivalent (I can't remember what those are called, but there is one. A "Lassie"?) While the plot is not new, "God is in the details", and the details of this movie made the script fresh. While Nicholson and Hunt still seem an implausible couple, they made themselves plausible while I watched the movie. Isn't watching a good movie or a good play, or reading a good book, supposed to involve the temporary and deliberate suspension of reality? Overall, this movie works when it shouldn't have. Recast a few of the roles, and I'd bet the movie would fall on its face. That's a warning to future directors and producers who'd think about doing a remake ten years from now or so. I didn't see it in the theaters, but I did buy it, and now I'll watch it every six months or so. A good one to have in your stack for a too-quiet evening or rainy afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, As good as it gets.
Review: James L. Brooks has worked wonders with trios before (See BROADCAST NEWS) and AS GOOD AS IT GETS is no exception. An extremely witty, touching character study, exhibits the best and worst of ourselves. Nicholson is extremely polished and Greg Kinnear and Helen Hunt both supply great performances. And with great supporting roles, the film is ready to entertain and make you think. The DVD commentary by NICHOLSON, HUNT, KINNEAR and BROOKS is priceless... Enjoy
Rating:
Summary: Who's gonna walk Verdell?
Review: Yes, my major question actually is where do they teach to write movie scripts so well? Some Panama-City University? Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear are simply fabulous. No doubt about that. Though I think there is no need to repeat this one thousand times here. Actually the whole cast is very very good. Congratulations to the casting director! What some reviewers really missed about this great movie is that it describes very unhappy flouncing people striving to be happy. After all it is a very sad movie but the huge amount of wisecracks and simply shocking statements most of the time coming from Melvin Udall(Nicholson) make this film look utterly funny. The trick demonstrated to all of us in this movie is how unhappy (and sick!) person can make other unhappy people happy. But to do this one has to fall in love first and, secondly, a wad of sweaty money in his hand might also be of some help... To some extent the plot reminds me "Pretty woman", at least the basic idea. Rich businessman - prostitute, successfull writer (62 books!) - waitress. Well... to be exact the whole stuff comes from "Cinderella" times and probably even more ancient fairy tales. (The difference is, however, that the good fairy and the prince is the same person in the modern versions). But the level of understanding of human nature demonstrated by James L. Brooks is simply amazing and incomparable. It touches a lot of other subjects like relationships with parents and some other important life issues (like not quite satisfactory solved health care problems in the US - children should be protected by the government - not their parents because they cannot choose their parents due to obvious reasons, and they actually cannot choose their government either but... well... let met stop here...). But the most interesting thing for me about this movie is how people react when you say something to them (not necessarily shocking or negative). They pay too much attention to words! It's amazing aspect of human psychology often overused by politicians but in reality we all should try and even, I would say, ought to judge other people by their deeds. Not words. Horrors of human beings don't walk your dogs! Maybe this is an overstatement (or just a hope) but I have a feeling looking at other reviews that certain part of general public is getting tired of Erasers, Predators and Total Recalls -from time to time you really need to watch something that touches your soul. If "As good as it gets" doesn't do this for you - too bad - you are probably hopeless or perhaps simply too young... After watching this movie 10 times or so I've got a suspicion, well, at least it's not inconceivable, that perhaps years from now it may become fashionable to fall in love with waitresses (especially with those ones working in Manhattan) helping them with their family problems. Actually I love this movie so much that I want to see a sequel! I want to see these actors together again "at lakes with boats and friends" eating noodle salad! That's what I want... Wouldn't it be very sweet? Huh? (Maybe James L. Brooks and co-authors could give this perhaps-an-unrealistic-though-who-knows thought a little consideration here?)
Rating:
Summary: GREAT PERFORMANCES!!!
Review: I love this movie! Nicholson and Hunt are at the top of their game in this one and deserved the Oscars they won but where was Shirley Knight's nomination? She was wonderful. She wasn't on screen long but neither were Beatrice Straight in Network or Dame Judy Dench in Shakespeare in Love and they took home the gold. Greg Kinear was wonderful and heartbreaking and deserved to win too!
Rating:
Summary: One of Nicholson's Greatest Performances
Review: This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite movies, it is so funny. It's got an all-star cast: Helen Hunt, Cuba Gooding Jr, Greg Kinnear, Skeet Ulrich and more! Nicholson won Best Actor for his performance of an obsessive-compulsive who wants to get better after he falls in love with Helen Hunt (but has a hard time getting there)!!! Delightful movie!
Rating:
Summary: Jack--as good as he gets
Review: This is the movie that made me take another look at Jack Nicholson's acting abilities and it also made me become more interested in him as a person and what makes him tick. His performance in this movie is excellent. The other actors are okay. After watching it when it came on TNT I had to buy the video. Also this movie caused me to rent Cuckoo's Nest which later I bought my own copy. Last it caused me to give The Shining another chance and I bought that movie on VHS as well. Parts of this movie moved me to tears and made me think there's more to Jack Nicholson than meets the eye.
Rating: 
Summary: Love life and weirdness
Review: The movie is realllllllly good I swear but it seems to have no point.
Rating:
Summary: If not for Jack this film would only get 1 star
Review: Now first let me state that I like the overiding theme of the movie. That being that life is not a bowl of cherries where you get to pick and choose perfect people and settings. It is what it is. And if you have friends regardless of how strange they may seem you're lucky. Then if you manage to find love you are perhaps luckiest of all. All very worthwhile sentiments. That being said the film was not interesting or engaging at all. The characters are all cute just not particularly appealing. That is except for Nicholson (Udall) of course. And the ONLY funny line of the whole movie is when the star eyed young receptionist asks Jack how he writes women so well. To which Jack replies with a palpable level of disdain 'First think of a man... then take away reason and accountability and there you have it'. Oh that was classic. I practically fell out of my chair laughing. And i'm sure that every other guy in the theatre wanted to laugh but dared not even show a smile to his wife or girlfriend. Jack as always is Jack and praise be or this film would have next to no redeeming qualities.
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