New York City. Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer, finds his life turned upside down when neighboring gay artist Simon is hospitalized and his dog is entrusted to Melvin. In addition, Carol, the only waitress who will tolerate him, must leave work to care for her sick son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast.
It's a mark of how magically written, directed and acted As Good as It Gets is that we end up loving this film despite knowing how haphazard, scattershot and almost indefinable its charm is.
– Kenneth Turan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb 2001
fresh:
It's fun to watch Jack Nicholson draw on great reservoirs of bile to play a mean SOB with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
– Lisa Schwarzbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Feb 2001
fresh:
Romance comedies definitely come better than this, although perhaps not lately.
– Rick Groen,
Globe and Mail,
12 Apr 2002
rotten:
The trouble lies in the rambling narrative, Brooks' cautious direction and the cosy tone which renders the whole thing reminiscent of an extended sitcom.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
rotten:
A sporadically funny romantic comedy with all the dramatic plausibility and tonal consistency of a TV variety show.