Rating: 
Summary: Worth watching to see Mel wax his leg!
Review: Nick (Gibson) is a divorced ad exec who womanizes every chica he meets. His daughter (Ashley Johnson) barely has a relationship with him, and the only women who love him are the ones he hasn't jilted yet. Enter Darcy (Helen Hunt), an exec who landed the plum job Nick expected to get. She instructs her ad people to take home a box of womens products to inspire them with ad ideas. As Nick is at home waxing his leg and putting on mascara, he has an unfortunate mishap involving a hair dryer and a tub full of water. This "charge" apparently gives him the ability to hear what women are thinking. Paranoid, Nick runs to his therapist (a fab cameo by Bette Midler), who convinces Nick that he has been given a gift ("most of my female clients' #1 complaint is that their men don't understand them", she says). Nick runs out and used his new "gift" on the cute coffee house chick (Marisa Tomei) who previously rejected him, and succeeds. Nick decides to use this mental advantage to get into Darcy's mind and snatch all her great ideas, particularly for an ad for Nike. Nick gets all the adulation, and Darcy starts to think she isn't good enough for the job. Nick hits a snag when he inadvertently falls in love with Darcy, and realizes (by understanding what women think) that he's hurting her, and apparently, develops a conscience. How does it all turn out? You'll have to see it to find out. The movie is funny- I doubt, however, that it would be as cute without Gibson's legendary boyish charm and wit. A bit far-fetched, but entertaining enough for a warm, cozy night in. If nothing else, it says a lot about the differences in the thought process of men and women.
Rating: 
Summary: Has potential, but suffers heavily from PC orientation
Review: The premise of unexpectedly acquiring a "super-power" and how to deal with it has great potential for a fun movie. Unfortunately "What Women Want" follows a by-the-book Politically Correct (PC) formula. The women are all sensitive, caring, PC-Perfect. The men are all chauvenistic, selfish, narcisistic. The plot is shallow and predictable -- although that doesn't necessarily ruin a movie, it just drags this move down more. The only male role with more than one line that was spared the PC-Bashing was Alan Alda's character. I expected more entertainment and less politics.
Rating:
Summary: The comedy sizzles, the romance fizzles
Review: Clearly what women want is as much Mel Gibson as they can get. This combination comedy and love story starts smartly, but unravels when the love story attempts to take itself seriously. However, that didn't keep the film from topping $200 Million worldwide at the box office.Nick Marshall is a "man's man", a self-absorbed chauvinist who has little respect for women. When his big promotion is given to Darcy McGuire (Helen Hunt), Nick plots for a way to bring her down. In the course of trying out women's products to get "the female perspective", he accidentally electrocutes himself, giving himself the power to read women's minds. Though highly contrived (why only women's thoughts?), the comedic gimmick is novel and produces numerous hilarious moments. Nick decides he is going to use his special powers to undermine Darcy in her position and seduce her in the process. Predictably, they fall in love, which leads to a soulless, but schmaltzy romance that throws a cold bucket of water on the merriment. Director Nancy Meyers has written a number of successful lightweight comedies ("Private Benjamin", "Father of the Bride", "The Parent Trap"), often teaming with her husband, director Charles Shyer. This is her second directorial project after "The Parent Trap" and is by far the most ambitious project she has undertaken. It is clear here that comedy is her strong suit. The comedy bits are well done and the gimmick is liberally explored with good results. In contrast, the romance is stilted and unnatural (due in part to the abysmal chemistry between Gibson and Hunt) and Meyers doesn't know when to quit, pouring it on ad nauseam. Mel Gibson is the right actor for the comedy and the wrong actor for the romance. He has always done well at wry macho comedy (See Lethal Weapon 1-4), but when it comes to romance, he's a dud. Though intoxicating to the female eye, Gibson is all thumbs when it comes to sensitive and sentimental interchanges. Like Nick, Gibson is a "man's man" and he is unable to bring the character to the proper transition. Helen Hunt often reminds me of Jody Foster in that she seems like a man trapped in a woman's body. However, unlike Foster, Hunt doesn't seem comfortable in that prison and always comes across as if she is having a gender crisis. Whereas Foster is an electrifying actor who is obviously at ease with her no-bull personality, Hunt feels compelled to force out her sensitive side, making her constantly appear awkward and unnatural. This disconnect is particularly grating here, especially given Gibson's handicap in the sentimentality department. The one compensation is that Hunt's deadpan seriousness is a comedic asset in her role as straight-woman (which is one of the primary reasons "Mad About You" succeeded on TV). Once again, Marisa Tomei proves that she is one of the most underrated actors in film with a show stopping performance as Lola. I have often wondered why she doesn't get meatier roles. She has mostly been relegated to quirky character roles, where she invariably outshines the leads. Her confrontation with Nick here is one of the highlights of the film. This film is easy to like. It can be forgiven its abortive attempt at matchmaking between Gibson and Hunt simply because the comedy bits are so funny. I rated it a 7/10. If Meyer had kept the romance light and lively, it could have been much better.
Rating: 
Summary: A funny non-boring movie
Review: This movie was so funny, and it never got boring. This movie is grate for almost anyone to see even if you dont like comidys you shoulsd still see this movie. Its got a bit of evreything in it. Comidy, drama, and romance.
Rating:
Summary: Classic-feeling, funny romantic comedy.
Review: I *could* give this movie 5 stars just because of how great Helen Hunt looks in this flick, but, I can't be that shallow! :) This movie has a sort of Cary Grant/Katherine Hepburn old movie quality that is somewhat intangible because it's obviously about modern women and a somewhat anachronistic man. It is pretty funny (READ: Mel Gibson in panty hose and fingernail polish dancing to woman-power-I-have-many-sides-to-me-which-must-be-honored music). Gibson's Ebenezer Scrooge-like turnaround is heartwarming, well-performed, and well-written, but yet, still somewhat Hollywood cliched in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: What Women Want
Review: Wonderful story. Women can certainly relate to the "man's man" concept and the male ego. A movie worth seeing again and again. Funny, realistic, and a happy ending.
Rating: 
Summary: A slight twist on a cliched genre
Review: "What Women Want" is merely a slight twist on the cliched genre of romance-comedy, adding in the unique aspect of Mel's ability to hear women's thoughts. This idea had enormous potential, and potential to be funny. But this was not the case. A few cute jokes, a strange scene of Mel dancing in the bathroom in pantyhouse and lipstick, and the obligatory cheesy make up with his daughter at the end of the movie after a rocky relationship. We all saw it coming. It's a good date movie, but little else.
Rating:
Summary: A very nice tragic comedy
Review: I liked the movie and the scenario.
Rating:
Summary: Watch It With Your Wife
Review: This isn't Mad Max nor Lethal Weapon nor even Conspiracy Theory. What it IS however, is a fine movie to spend an evening with your wife, perhaps a bag of microwave popcorn and a couple of iced soft drinks. Don't expect the kind of "in your face" action that might normally expect from Mel Gibson. Do expect an endearing Helen Hunt. Together, their on-screen personas mix well for an enjoyable couple of hours of laughter. The sad part of this movie for us guys is... we really can't deny that Mel is acting just the way we too often are! Sorry about that, ladies... Mel Gibson begins the movie as the stereotypical "guy" - not sensitive and with only "one" thing in mind. Not a good father. Been a bad husband. All his relationships are pretty one-sided. Enter electricity and a bit of movie magic. The balance of the movie shows what a bit of sensitivity can do for those prickly interpersonal relationships. There's a message here somewhere... Mel Gibson does a good job with comedy during his actions flicks; he does a fine job carrying that same sense of humor into a love story. And if you've never seen him do a bit of soft-shoe and dance with a hat tree... Steven Reis
Rating: 
Summary: Good fun, but only once
Review: What Women Want is one of those movies where it's fun to watch it once, but boring to watch it more. It IS interesting to hear what the women are thinking, and there are some laughable moments, but it's not the best Mel Gibson movie by far, and the lacks in features. (Only recommended for people who like it, or Mel Gibson or Helen Hunt fans)
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