Product: What Women Want [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 3.0
A pretty funny movie, but too long.
"What Women Want" tells the story of a man who thinks he's God's gift to women, until he receives a little gift of his own: the ability to hear what women think. The movie stars Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, both of whom give excellent performances and have a unique chemistry which is not explosive but still convincing. The movie has everything going for it, but the third act fizzles out and the laughs die too quickly, which takes away from the luster of the genuinely funny scenes in the beginning and mid- sections.Gibson was the ideal choice for Nick Marshall, a hotshot advertising executive whose company has just hired Darcy McGuire instead of him as the new creative director. Her approach to boosting sales focuses on marketing products to women, and each of the meeting attendees are given a box full of women's products. As Nick tries out the products in order to get a feel for the ideas Darcy is looking for, a freak accident gives him the unthinkable power of hearing womens' thoughts and feelings.At first intimidated by his newfound ability, Nick soon gains control over his fear and is able to use it to his advantage, hoping that stealing Darcy's ideas and making them his own will get him the position and her out of the company. But he soon starts falling in love with her, and finds out that what he is doing isn't such a good idea after all, especially when she is fired.The comedy of the film has a certain sophistication which rises above such comedies as "American Pie" or "Scary Movie." It never goes into the gross-out category, nor does it push the envelope. Our protagonist, Nick, goes through everything a normal man would avoid: waxing his legs, applying mascara to his eyes, nail polish, and listening to Meredith Brooks' "Bitch" while trying on black pantyhose and a push-up bra. His awkwardness in taking on these tasks is absolutely hilarious. More comic relief comes when he hears womens' thoughts, especially that of the guard at his building, who has a hidden attraction for him.The movie is a subconscious battle of the sexes, with Nick trying to mold himself into what each of the women he comes in contact with wants. The men in the audience will agree with the confusion he goes through as he turns himself into a sex machine for the girl in the coffee shop, while putting on the sensitive charm and man-oriented jokes for the women at work. This is some of Gibson's best work, and his ability to go from emotion to emotion is a testament to that ability and stamina.His supporting cast includes a lot of well-knowns, most of whom have small cameos. Helen Hunt has all the look, charm and appeal of a real advertising creative director; she's the kind of actress who you could believe in a role like this. Marisa Tomei is a riot in her role as the coffee shop waitress, while Lauren Holly gives a small yet winning performance as Nick's ex-wife. Alan Alda makes an appearance as the head of the company, while Delta Burke and Bette Midler appear as well. This is one of those sparkling casts that shines no matter what the material, and their interactions are natural and make the movie enjoyable.The only thing preventing this movie is its length, which will certainly have an effect on the overall movie after it ends. The first two thirds of the movie are comedic brilliance, helmed by Gibson, but once the awkwardness of his situation gives way to the budding romance between Nick and Darcy, the movie slows down considerably, dragging out over the course of almost an hour as Nick debates whether or not to tell her about sabotaging her job. The comedy also comes to a halt, and while there are a few laughs left over, the chuckles and side-splitting laughter which comes with earlier moments is lost to the lengthy melodrama.Still, "What Women Want" is a funny movie which does succeed in delivering laughs. Gibson does some of his best comedic work here, and this will be remembered as one of his best roles. Though the film lacks a solid ending, within the overall film lies an intriguing look at the battle of the sexes and how it shapes our lives.