As Good as It Gets

1997

PG-13

2h 19m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

3.9K

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3 Videos

99 Images

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction, is rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor, Simon. After Simon is brutally attacked and hospitalized, Melvin finds his life turned upside down when he has to look after Simon's dog. In addition, Carol, the only waitress at the local diner who will tolerate him, leaves work to care for her chronically ill son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast.

Directors

James L. Brooks

Writers

Mark Andrus(screenplay by)

James L. Brooks(screenplay by)

Mark Andrus(story by)

Stars

Jack Nicholson

Helen Hunt

Greg Kinnear

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Videos3

Photos99

Top cast

Melvin Udall

Carol Connelly

Simon Bishop

Frank Sachs

Beverly Connelly

Spencer Connelly

Jackie Simpson

Nora Manning

Vincent Lopiano

Dr. Bettes

Dr. Green

Neighbor Woman

Carl

Caterer

Partygoer

Partygoer

Partygoer

Handyman

Directors

James L. Brooks

Writers

Mark Andrus(screenplay by)

James L. Brooks(screenplay by)

Mark Andrus(story by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews3

Review

Featured review

7/10

Greg Kinnear ("Simon") finds himself in hospital after a brutal bit of gay-bashing, and that means that his small, yappie, dog ("Jill") has to be entrusted to his rather curmudgeonly, author neighbour "Melvin" (Jack Nicholson) - not exactly the most loving and obvious of choices. Now this latter guy isn't exactly flavour of the month - indeed it's really only waitress "Carol" (Helen Hunt) who will put up with his selfish and churlish behaviour. When her young son becomes ill, she has to take time off and "Melvin" finds himself truly alone - with no breakfast! The solution, well all three of them take a trip and, well, you can imagine that with Nicholson and Hunt on super form here, Kinnear clearly thriving as their foil, and a screenplay from James L. Brooks at his best, we get an highly entertaining and earthy hybrid of comedy and the most unlikely semblance of romance as the three realise that there is so much more to life than any realised was possible. It's a wee bit long, but the characterisations are rich and engaging and there is a genuine chemistry on screen between all three - and the dog! It's a feel good film that has some serious undercurrents but those are dealt with in a fashion that is potent but not preachy and provides us with food-for-thought wrapped in a smile. Definitely worth watching.

Geronimo196728 May, 2023