Time For The First Review Of The Year. Sorry, That's "As Good As It Gets"

As Good As It Gets (1997)

PG-13

Starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear

Directed by James L. Brooks

The Story:

Melvin Udall (Nicholson) is a cranky, bigoted writer who suffers from OCD. He enjoys picking on his gay neighbor, Simon (Kinnear) and gives the local waitress, Carol (Hunt) constant grief at work. However, when tragedy strikes Simon, Melvin's world turns upside-down and he is thrust into a situation where he winds up going on on a road trip together.  Will he be civil to Simon? And will his true feelings for Carol bubble to the surface?

This is one of those deceptively enjoyable films.

There isn't a whole lot to it, just a lot of character interaction between the three main actors.

Kinnear holds his own against Nicholson, and the two sparkle in their debates and encounters with each other throughout the movie.

The love story between Melvin and Carol is a bit more troubling. Perhaps it is the age difference?

At nearly 30 years her senior, it seems odd that Carol would fall for Melvin, no matter how kind he is to her and her son.

Just a minor quibble, and not enough to derail the movie.

Just something that always seemed a bit off when I've watched it.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own it, and this was the first time I've watched it in about a decade. Holds up pretty decently after all these years.