Review of As Good as It Gets (1997) by Fox M — 22 Oct 2009

Feminine is probably the highest compliment I could give a women on her appearance and behavior, and it's the perfect word to describe Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets. In the Mad About You series I always thought of her as fifty percent of a character, because she works as a team. Aside from that I have nothing else to compare her to, and if you had've said "We putting Helen in a romantic comedy," I would've dry-wretched at the thought of being overly romanced. Thank fully that was never the case.

Greg Kinnear deserves more acclamation then he gets, considering his consistantly good acting. He plays a gay man and manages to convey a flambouyant nature without pushing it over the top and splashing over everyone's lap. Years later, we see him in Ghost Town (Ricky Gervais, Teia Leoni, another romantic comedy) and his acting is still believable to the last sentence.

Jack Nicholson starts off horrible, and remains horrible through the whole movie, despite delivering the kindest lines and most beautiful thoughts and compliments. He isn't simply declawed and declared "safe for all to befriend" as would happen if the movie had've had a bad director or actor.

Still, never have thought of him as handsome :S.

The movie itself is fantastic for a two hour, 20 minute treat. It's romantic comedy, sure, but I'd take it more as a study of human behavior and interaction, and it's gutsy in it's execution. It doesn't have three characters that are broken, it begins WITH broken characters. Helen is hampered by concern for her family life and son, Nicholson has his OCD and Kinnear literally has his life (and face) broken.

This movie also delivers so many brilliant lines I'm reminded of Casablanca.

"You make me wanna be a better man.".

"This is Carol, the waitress. Meet Simon, the fag.".

*Simon rips off arm cast* HAAA!

"I have to draw you.".

I don't trust american cinema most of the time, but occasionally the movie-goer is gifted with something like As Good As It Gets, a truely wonderful piece of cinema. Easily sits alongside American Beauty.