What Women Want (2000)

After an accident, a chauvenistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking.

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers:

Josh Goldsmith (story), Cathy Yuspa (story),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Nick Marshall
Helen Hunt	...	Darcy Maguire
Marisa Tomei	...	Lola
Alan Alda	...	Dan Wanamaker
Ashley Johnson	...	Alex Marshall
Mark Feuerstein	...	Morgan Farwell
Lauren Holly	...	Gigi
Delta Burke	...	Eve
Valerie Perrine	...	Margo
Judy Greer	...	Erin the File Girl
Sarah Paulson	...	Annie
Ana Gasteyer	...	Sue Cranston
Lisa Edelstein	...	Dina
Loretta Devine	...	Flo the Doorwoman
Diana Maria Riva	...	Stella

Storyline

Nick, a somewhat chauvinistic advertising exec hot shot, has his life turned haywire when a fluke accident enables him to hear what women think. At first all he wants to do is rid himself of this curse, until a wacky psychologist shows him that this could be used to his advantage! His first target is Darcy McGuire, the very woman that got the promotion he wanted. But just as his plan is beginning to work, love gets in the way...

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Plot Keywords:

advertising | playboy | psychiatrist | sabotage | electrocuted in bathtub | 

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Taglines:

He has the power to hear everything women are thinking. Finally... a man is listening.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ce que veulent les femmes

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£3,375,075 (UK) (2 February 2001)

Gross:

ESP 1,712,022,838 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Icon Entertainment International, Wind Dancer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the bathroom scene, when Nick falls into the bathtub and nearly electrocutes himself, there's Swedish ad-poster on the wall. The text ("Härligt efter rakning") means "Wonderful after shaving".

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Goofs

Early in the film, when Nick returns to his office and the girls open the champagne, liquid can be seen coming out the end of the bottle before the cork exits. There was no cork in the bottle, just one already in Nick's hand. (This gag is revealed in the director's commentary.)

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Quotes

[first lines]
Woman: [voiceover] You know the expression, "a man's man". A man's man is the leader of the pack, the kind of man other men look up to, admire, and emulate. A man's man is the kind of man who - just doesn't get what women are about.
Gigi: Nick, my ex-husband, is the ultimate man's man. I probably never should have married him. I don't think he understood a thing about me.

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Connections

References Friends (1994)

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Soundtracks

"We Think It's Love"
Written by Leah Haywood and Jorgen Elofsson (as Jorgen Eloffson)
Performed by Leah Haywood
Courtesy of Epic Records/Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) Limited
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

" Alcohol is the perfect antidote to estrogen "

In the 1960's, popular writer and psychiatrist, Eric Berne wrote a book upon which this film should have been its premise. The book was called the 'games people play.' This interesting, quirky, comedy movie is called " What women want. " It tells the story of a top Manhattan, executive, Nick Marshall, (Mel Gibson) in the advertising business who experiences a shocking electrical accident which leaves him with the ability to read women's minds. Much like another movie, 'The Misadventures of Merlin Jones.' Although females at his place of employment consider him to be a snobbish, egocentric, male chauvinist and brutish womanizer, he sees himself the opposite. Slated for a promotion, he is dismayed when he is not. Instead another executive, a female, Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt) is chosen. Believing he is cursed, he seeks a doctor who convinces him it's not a curse, but a blessing. Although, there is much to learn, Marshall soon adapts and uses his power to sabotage Darcy and her efforts. Alan Alda plays Dan Wanamaker, Gibson's boss, with Marisa Tomei, Delta Burke and Valerie Perrine in supporting roles, this movie sails well, until the principals meet to resolve their predicament, which in this reviewer's opinion, leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, Gibson does a good job and is able to produce many a smile with his feminine antics. ****