Rating: Summary: Vapid and Disjointed Review: I knew I was not going to be watching Doctor Zhivago when I checked this DVD out of the local library, but I thought, with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt involved (as well as Alan Alda and a wonderful Marisa Tomei in supporting roles), the story would make some sense whatsoever, or at least be mildly amusing. What a waste.This film cannot decide whether it wants to be an aburdist comedy, a "Working Girl" like tale of a woman rising to the top in a man's business world, or a love story involving the two lead characters. They also throw in a little rebellious daughter v. overprotective father stuff for good measure. At various times in the movie, it tries to do all of the above, none very well mind you, only to abandon the premise in favor of something else. Mel Gibson is a successful, cocky, chauvinist advertising executive in line for a promotion by his boss Alan Alda. On the day he is supposedly destined for glory, Alda pulls an about face and hires outsider Helen Hunt for the promotion, who was recently fired from her job at a competing agency, despite her supposedly great marketing ideas for targeting women consumers. There follows a rather predictable effort at sabotage by Mel, while (equally predictably) he starts falling for his new boss Hunt at the same time he pities her. Within this fairly unexciting plotline the writers have thrown a bizarre twist, namely that Gibson, who receives a shock in his bathtub, can now hear the secret thoughts of all women around him. One horrible scene involves Gibson walking through a department store, I think it was the prefume section, and being literally tortured by the bombardment of thoughts assailing him from all females present. After they believe this joke wears a little thin, (and believe me it does), the writers just basically abandon the premise! By the conclusion you just want this dog to end, since many reviewers here rightly pointed out the movie is about thirty minutes too long. I liked the scenes with quirky Marisa Tomei, an aspiring actress who works in a coffee bar and worries about the impending loss of her looks, but Mel (and the writers) drop Marisa like a dirty shirt about halfway through the film. Gibson ends up being, at least with Tomei, exactly the kind of chauvinist jerk they are trying to convince you he is not. You have to admire Gibson's willingness to take risks and change gears every now and then, making a film like this in favor of yet another Braveheart/Patriot clone. However if you still want to watch What Women Want, by all means rent this movie, you won't want to sit through it more than once.
Rating: Summary: Not What Everyone Wants Review: What Women Want isn't a bad film. It's just too long!. This is movie is a half hour longer than it really needs to be. It drags on way too long and I think that hurts the film. Mel Gibson stars as an adman who receives the ability to read women's minds after getting electrocuted in his bathroom by falling in the tub with a hair dryer. Yeah, it could happen. Sure. Predictably, Mel starts to use it to his advantage. Would you?. He uses it on his new co-worker played by Helen Hunt. After a while, he realizes he's using his newfound powers for the wrong reasons. He also makes Helen's character lose her job. Of course, there's romance between the two. How could there not be?. The movie takes a more serious turn as Mel starts feeling pressure from hearing things he really doesn't want to hear, including a co-worker who he thinks wants to kill herself. The film could of done without that part. Again, the movie isn't bad. It could've been funnier and a lot shorter. Mel Gibson is very good in this. Helen Hunt has little to do here. But, on the up side, she looks incredible. This is a film that will not be everyone's taste.
Rating: Summary: TIRED, FORMULAIC DRIVEL Review: I am not a fan of Mel Gibson, nor am I a fan of Helen Hunt. Their pairing here is not endearing. The jokes are tired. The story stale. The idea of a chauvinistic, womanising man getting electrocuted and then magically living through the ordeal only to be able to read the minds of all women he encounters... in his dreams. A man this callous and shallow would not use this power to become a gentler, more sensitive man. He would use it to get exactly what he wanted. Sure, his character does exploit his new gift to an extent, but of course, the end is just picture-perfect because he has become so sensitive and soft-hearted that he can practically read the mind of leading lady Helen Hunt even without his improbable skill. I am not impressed.
Rating: Summary: MUST SEE Review: THOUGHT THE MOVIE WAS FUNNY AND EXACTLY WHAT WOMEN THINK. MANY THOUGHT THE MOVIE WAS A CHOVINISTIC MOVIE BUT YOU CAN'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY, YOU MUST SEE THE FUN IN THE MOVIE AS IT IS. I THOUGHT THER MOVIE FUNNY AND GREAT. GREAT ACTOR'S PLAYING TOGETHER! eSPECIALLY ABOUT THE DAUGHTER'S PROM WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A DRESS.......THIS WILL BE THE DRESS I LOOSE MY VIRGINITY! AND WHEN HELEN HUNT KEPT LOOKING AT HIS CROTCH! NOW THATS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE THINK AND IT'S A GOOD THING THAT MEN CAN'T READ MINDS.
Rating: Summary: Pleasant Surprise Review: In a romantic comedy, there's no real suspense these days. Boy meets girl, and boy and girl get together, usually for keeps. The only way to add any variation to the theme is to make the characters or the setting appealing, or to have witty and/or wise dialogue. I'm not sure why this movie was so panned by the critics, because _What Women Want_ surely delivers appealing characters in the form of Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson, and an interesting setting in the head offices of a large Chicago advertising firm. Yes, the movie was a bit long. I was ready for them to resolve the romance before they finally got around to it -- and Marisa Tomei's funny character is disposed of in a ridiculous and neat way that leaves the hero unscathed -- but Helen Hunt was charming and has rarely looked lovelier, and she gave the role her usual depth. Mel Gibson did a good job, and his Astaire-like dance number was an unexpected delight. I thoroughly enjoyed _What Women Want_ and felt I'd been given a slice of (no doubt glamorized) life of two successful ad execs juggling job and romance in the big city. The device of having the hero be able to read women's minds was used for the most part effectively, without bashing the audience over the head with it. Certainly an imaginative way to allow the hero to grow emotionally. Now, I'll end with a comparison: this movie really was a long re-working of just about every episode of the TV show Bewitched, wasn't it? Only this time "Samantha" gets to be more overtly smart in turning everything into successful ad campaigns!
Rating: Summary: Funny movie! Review: This movie was really funny! Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt were great! I saw this movie 1 million times! I would recomend this movie to about anyone!
Rating: Summary: One of the best comedies!! Review: I really enjoyed watching this movie, yet as the rating states it is intended for viewers over 13. If you want somthing funny with a little splash or romance, this is it!!
Rating: Summary: Mel Gibson at his best! Review: The subject matter of this film will generally be hated by men and loved by women. (Just read the reviews if you don't believe me) Subject matter aside, the acting was superb! I imagine Mel Gibson had a great time doing this film. He expressed just about every imaginable emotion all in two hours. It takes a great actor to combine comedy and seriousness successfully, which I believe he did. This movie may not be a "classic", but if you just want a few laughs, I definately recommend it.
Rating: Summary: Fun Film Review: Great Synatra score! Funny premise played very well by the versatile Gibson. Hunt is not my favorite actress, but she holds her own as a powerful businesswoman without falling into any of the stereotypes normally associated with such rolls. Ashley Johnson puts in a good turn as Gibson's 15 year old daughter, I look forward to seeing more of her in the future.
Rating: Summary: Interesting Idea, Terrible Movie Review: As a romantic comedy addict, I expected a lot from this movie. The original idea was very interesting and could have made an excellent comedy about women and emotions. MISTAKE! this is one of the worst film i ever seen in my whole life and without a doubt the most predictable and boring piece of garbage. The acting is terrible: Mel Gibson is Over-The-Top and horrendous.You can't believe him one second. I was ashamed for him. Then, we got Helen Hunt (the worst actress in history): To say that this girl can't act is an understatement. She made me sick. One-dimensional and absolutly horrible performance. The only good points are the solid performance from Marisa Tomei and the enjoyable Bette midler guest appearence but they just can't save the film. Avoid this movie at all cost: It's just too BAD. A waste of time, efforts and movie reels. 2 hours of my life i'll never get back. If you enjoy romantic comedies, check out "Chocolat" or "You've Got Mail".
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