Fascinating comedy-drama (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (19 April 2004)

One of the biggest hits of 1997 and garnering Jack Nicholson yet another Oscar, "As Good As It Gets" is a fascinating comedy-drama. It might be perceived as bad taste using mental illness as the basis for a comedy, but the premise works wonderfully in a story that explores the nature of being both nasty and nice.
In modern-day middle-class New York city, Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is a writer of successful romantic novels. He also suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which means he eats in his favourite restaurant using only plastic cutlery, does not walk on cracks in the pavement, and keeps everyone around him at a safe distance through a barrage of obscene insults. He is gradually brought out of his shell when his gay artist neighbour Simon (Greg Kinnear), is viciously attacked and robbed in his own apartment. The artist's manic art dealer Frank (Cuba Gooding Jr.) forces Melvin to look after Simon's dog while he's in hospital. Elsewhere, Melvin develops a close relationship with Carol (Helen Hunt), a tough-talking waitress with a disabled young son...
The film's main strength is it's four leading actors, who turn in some fabulous performances to make the film work. Nicholson has been well-cast in the role of Melvin. In the hands of any other actor, Melvin would be repellent. Nicholson lends the part his customary charisma and presence to make the part endearing, sympathetic and scabrously funny. He develops a good onscreen partnership with Helen Hunt's Carol. There is a fine psychological (if not necessarily sexual) chemistry between the pair, and their inevitable coupling works well because of it.
Greg Kinnear is on fine form as Simon, who loses then rediscovers his love for his art. What's interesting about the character is that his homosexuality is simply a trait, rather than the dominating facet of his personality. In Kinnear's hands the character is subtle, touching and believable throughout. Cuba Gooding Jr is maniacally slick as art dealer Frank, but he is a little underused, his presence being sorely missed during the last third of the film.
Director James L. Brooks keeps the tone of the film consistently lighthearted without being patronising. That said, some overly cute scenes with Simon's dog could have been clipped out. He and fellow writer Mark Andrus have developed an interesting tale with several plot arcs that are fascinating to watch. As Melvin and Carol gradually soften up, Simon assertively toughens up.
The film chides Melvin's defensive nastiness, but at the same time mocks minor characters who are naively or superficially nice. These include Carol's busybody mother, forever prying into her daughter's business; Simon's ridiculously sentimental Spanish nurse and most memorably, the cloying receptionist who unwisely asks Melvin what he thinks about women. The film advises that we must never repel others, but must always approach them with sincerity and respect.
To conclude, this is an interesting movie that looks at how seemingly different people can learn to understand each other and does so with streak of scathingly honest humour.