...which, as it turns out, isn't bad at all

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2010)

What does a single mother, a writer(neurotic, of course... aren't they all?) and a gay artist have in common? All three appear in this movie, focused on their relationship. With both stars earning an Oscar each, and Greg being nominated and deserving to win, this has phenomenal acting. Well, the kid is arguably over-the-top at points. Apart from him, the performances are powerful and convincing. Hunt, Nicholson(especially) and Kinnear all use both their charm and their skill to great effect. As far as being a romantic comedy, this isn't as clichéd as most of those are. This is a marvelous drama, if there is a bit of sap(don't get me wrong, it is genuinely sweet at times), and not everyone will agree with L. Brooks' indictment of the US health care system(the social commentary is tough to argue with, though). The dialog is sharp and witty. This can be quite funny, if a handful of gags and jokes try too hard, and some will find the depiction of OCD offensive(I personally don't think it ought to be played for laughs, the way it is here). The plot isn't bad. There is a bit of disturbing content, a little vague sexual content(all visual or hinted at) and brief, brutal violence in this. I recommend this to fans of the genres. 8/10