An overrated and mediocre mix of comedy and drama.

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2007)

If this is as good as it gets I'll quit watching films. Has a slow start but improves after the first half-hour or so. Nicholson is good - though definitely not brilliant - and Hunt is forgettable. The film as a whole is semi-entertaining. However, there aren't any belly-laugh moments. But the biggest problem are the drama to comedy (and vice versa) transitions which tend to ruin the comedic flow of the film. Although worth checking out, the film is overrated. It's one of those comedies which cause major hysteria among both critics and (probably) viewers, and for totally unfathomable reasons. Oscar Shmoscar; this is most definitely not one of Nicholson's best roles. To be more specific, I will name some films where he was better: "One Flew", "The Shining", "Hoffa", "The Last Detail", and "Wolf". As for Helen Hunt, her Oscar is one in a series of undeserved Oscars for actors who have nepotism to thank for their illustrious careers. How does that old saying go?... "Success is 10% hard work, 90% nepotism".