Product: What Women Want [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Shocking revelation
A prime example of how good casting can redeem an insipid plot idea. Mel Gibson is a senior executive in an advertising agency. Not senior enough for his ambitions, however. He aims for a loftier position, but is displaced by a new arrival pirated from another agency. Helen Hunt enters with all the conflicting emotions of the new hire but seasoned professional. Hunt perfectly assumes the stereotyped role of today's woman manager. She's lovely, she's assertive, she's vulnerable, but keeps it hidden, and, of course, she's recently divorced. Her assumption of the Director's post reflects the agency's need to reach the women's market. Gibson is unable to achieve that because he's more interested in bedding women than selling to them. He's not aware of what women want.His awareness expands with a jolt - an electric jolt that provides him with the ability to receive women's thoughts [Do women really operate on a different mental wavelength? A dangerous proposition to consider these days.]. Confused with the inundation of information, often about himself, Gibson turns his new abilities to discredit Hunt. Corporate ambition knows no limits and he undercuts her role using this rather blunt instrument. His own emotions crowd his intent to gain the Directorship, however. This is inevitable in a romantic fantasy-comedy. The finale is also inevitable, but carried off with the panache Hunt and Gibson bring to this story.There's little novelty in this film, but the stunning performances overcome that limitation. Besides Gibson, who can assume nearly any role cloak and Hunt, whose abilities almost transcend criticism, the film is nearly stolen away by Ashley Johnson. As Gibson's teenage daughter, she parachutes into his already complicated life while her mother honeymoons. The father-daughter conflicts and stresses parade through the film, but Johnson brings a special, subtle sensitivity to the role. Alan Alda as the ad agency's president was an interesting choice. He conveys a sense of dignity that another actor might fail to impart.This film is worth a view, if for no other reason than seeing Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson in yet another guise. Whether it's worth repetitive watching is another question. Unless you're a die-hard Gibson or Hunt fan, once may be enough. Johnson may be an actress to watch and future roles may suggest coming back to this one as she develops. At this point, a single viewing was enough.