As Good As It Gets

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Cast of characters:

Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall

Helen Hunt as Caroll Connelly

Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop

Introduction

This movie is a touching comedy about three New Yorkers, three unhappy people, who have been condemned by destiny to be whacked and slapped more often than what would be their fair share. It is about a writer (Udall), who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), he is mean, angry and frustrated; but writes romantic stories for a living. It is about this diffident, young homosexual painter (Simon), who has a strange kind of honesty about him. And a not so young, single mother (Caroll) who has somewhere lost her own self between nursing her acutely ill son and working as a waitress.

The First Scene

Simon’s ill-mannered pooch is contemplating blasphemy at the corner of a wall with his one hind leg raised in the air, outside the front door of Udall’s apartment. This certainly does not go well with Udall. He discourages the dog in his characteristic mean and threatening manner, talking and smiling to him, inviting the dog to join him in the elevator, perhaps to dispose him off in the bustle of the mean city outside. The dog is not easily convinced. Udall picks him up, and the pooch takes advantage of his elevated position to do what Udall dreads. A disgusted Udall, enraged with the dog’s audacity, pushes him down the garbage chute; a smug smile adorns his countenance as he naively thinks that he has rid himself of this nuisance forever.

Udall

Udall is a queer character. He does not walk in a straight line, but chooses to dodge imaginary lines on the floor beneath. He, as the rest of the world, does not simply switch on the light, or lock the door. He will switch the light on and off five times – on, off, on, off and finally, on. Ditto for the lock. The cabinet above his washbasin is stacked with dozens of newly packed soap bars. He washes his hands with two new soap bars under blistering hot water. An extreme case of OCD; he is in dire need of the services of a professional and competent psychiatrist. At the same time, he is also an extremely popular writer of ideal, romantic stories – painting illusions of true love and companionship - the kind that women find fascinating but would hardly capture the attention of a man.

The story

The storyline is weaved around a tragic accident with Simon. He becomes the victim of a merciless attack, inside his own home, by some hooligan friends of his model. This not only leaves his face scarred beyond recognition but also unsettles his life. The resulting medical expenses leave him bankrupt. He will have to give up his apartment and studio. That man’s fortunes hit so low that even his own dog ignores him. Caroll is, also, unable to afford a decent treatment for her son’s asthma and allergy condition – he is literally incapacitated. She is frustrated, bitter and tired.

Udall falls in love with Caroll. He becomes a nicer person. The sarcasm and meanness withdraw from his personality. He becomes friends with Simon. He, also, does something spectacular for Caroll and her son. These three people find companionship, support and love in each other. And live happily ever after.

Thoughts

But, as I see it, life is not so easy. When you are in trouble, when you are losing hope, there is no Udall. Life is, at times, unbearable. Suffering is an unavoidable part of our lives. Your worst fears come true. We are all, anyways, doomed.