Product: What Women Want [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
The Fall From Fashion
I recently caught a smidgen of this film on cable; so I when I saw it in the budget bin I snapped it up. I liked the film when it first came out, but I think it's aged well. Director Nancy Meyers likes does a tremendous job putting together the talent and keeping the pace brisk. She's directed "Something's Gotta Give" &The Holiday. She gets that comedy is means, but telling a good story is the end. Nick Marshall's becoming a man who has compassion is a lovely story, well told. Mel Gibson plays the lead character with charm, wit and moxie. I particularly love the scene where he puts Sinatra on the phonograph and dances joyfully around the room. The panty hose scene had me in hysterics. In the DVD extras, Gibson comments on how Hunt is SO good that you feel that she is in the whole movie, even though her screen time is limited. As Darcy Macguire, Hunt delivers a blockbuster, nuanced performance, comic, romantic and dazzling. Hunt won the Oscar & Golden Globe for "As Good as It Gets." In this film, I particularly like the moment where she fires Nick. I've seen this film before, yet find myself continually surprised. Helen Hunt raves about Marisa Tomei's performance in the film in the DVD extras. As Lola, Tomei comes on like a whirlwind as the coffee shop girl who doesn't want to be romantically hurt. Tomei won her Oscar for "My Cousin Vinny" and was nominated for "In the Bedroom." She is superb.Smaller roles also offer strong support. Alan Alda plays the head of the advertising agency, Dan Wanamaker. Alda got his Oscar nomination forThe Aviator. His brief screen appearances are filled with energy. Mark Feuerstein who was in "Defiance" plays Nick's coworker Morgan Farwell. Bette Midler has a cameo as Nick's psychiatrist. Delta Burke plays Eve and Valerie Perrine plays Margo, Marshall's office assists. They have one of the great gags of the film when Nick tries to read their minds, but no thoughts are going on. Ashley Johnson from TV's "Growing Pains" plays Nick's daughter. His increasingly close relationship with her is another heartwarming element that makes this film worth revisiting. Lauren Holly from "Ace Ventura" has a brief cameo as Ashley's mother Gigi. Judy Greer from "27 Dresses" &The Amateurshas a moving role as the shy office girl Erin who thinks of ending her life. "What Women Want" is a great film because it is life affirming, showing us that understanding and compassion never fall out of fashion. Enjoy!