Witty, amusing and touching little comedy of personal difference.

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2003)

Nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1997, "As Good As It Gets" manages to live up to its hype. The comic timing is impeccable, perfectly balancing drama and light comedy. The script is well devised and the stars couldn't be any more suited to their roles.
The two (or three) leads shine here. Jack Nicholson makes a career breakthrough as a neurotic, grumpy, obsessive compulsive and cynical old man. He proves that he can excel equally at drama and at comedy. Helen Hunt also makes a career breakthrough and goes past the smiley sitcom character in "Mad About You". She is very convincing as the single mother cum waitress and rightfully beat Kate Winslet for the Oscar. While the limelight is aimed more at Nicholson and Hunt, Greg Kinnear does very well as a gay artist. Cuba Gooding Jnr. isn't really giving it his all but does OK anyway and makes good support.
The brilliant script, the comic timing, the undeniable charm, the great performances and the overall enjoyablity add up to make "As Good As It Gets" a charming, cute and instantly likeable light comedy. It's a shame that the Academy Awards don't pay much attention to other comedies like this. I give it 7.7/10.