As Good as It Gets - A Movie Review

What if this is as good as it gets?

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 romantic comedy-drama. Melvin Udall is a successful romance novelist with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He is rude to everyone he meets. After a predicament, he makes an unlikely friendship with a single mother and a gay artist.

Strangely, I haven’t checked out more films with Jack Nicholson, so I decided to watch As Good as It Gets. This is a film about understanding life and making connections. It’s also about how connections bring people together to mend broken wounds.

Jack Nicholson is a phenomenal actor. He embodies his roles, finding unique attributes to play characters. Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a difficult man with OCD, who lives by routine and his own vulgar views. Every step is planned precisely so he won’t step on a crack.

Nicholson was worried that audiences would dislike his character due to his hurtful actions. Melvin is challenging but his efforts to improve and help others is an astounding performance by Nicholson. He remarked that Melvin was the most loveable character he’s ever played.

Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear play Carol Connelly and Simon Bishop, two people undergoing a hard time. Both were nominated for their performances. Hunt delivers an emotional and well-acted monologue about her changing role as a mother. Carol is a resilient woman, but she’s bottled her emotions for the sake of her son.

Most roles I have seen Kinnear in have been mean-spirited characters. Kinnear’s performance as Simon is more subtle, capturing his character’s frightened demeanor. Reportedly, Kinnear was scared to work with Nicholson who was known for his unpredictability.

Credits include Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Shirley Knight, Yeardley Smith, and Lupe Ontiveros.

Verdell, played by dog actor Jill, is the most important character in the story. The dog was alert and responsive, and she also had the biggest eyes! He was written just to develop Melvin’s humanity. My favorite scene is when the dog imitates Melvin’s cautious steps around cracks.

As Good as It Gets centers on the character's relationships. The character's dilemmas are realistic. You may not agree with their actions, but that’s what films challenge viewers to do.

The trio’s friendship is defined as unlikely. The script went through several changes, even considering the trio as old friends. Making them nemesis first was a better approach. Friendships don’t always start perfectly. Think about your friendships. It takes time to get to know someone, and you are surprised by what common ground you find.

James L. Brooks blended humor with drama. The screenplay, co-written with Mark Andrus, presents a story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, challenging audiences to look beyond surface imperfections. It’s a study of empathy.

Production was shut down briefly due to an argument between Brooks and Nicholson about his character, Melvin. Eventually, they agreed to make more nuanced portrayals of characters. The film's exploration of flawed individuals striving for connection and understanding resonates deeply.

As Good as It Gets was filmed on location in New York City. The city made an exceptional location spot. The characters are afraid to venture out of their comfort zones when they’re surrounded by a big city. Eventually, they overcome their fears together.

The budding romance between the two main characters was unnecessary. Some films take last-minute romance routes. This is a film about friendship, and we need to influence positive storylines about friendship. Friendship takes time to evolve.

As Good as It Gets was a more heartwarming film than I thought it would be. is a timeless classic that everyone needs to watch.