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Title: As Good as It Gets (1997)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jack Nicholson | ... | Melvin Udall | |
| Helen Hunt | ... | Carol Connelly | |
| Greg Kinnear | ... | Simon Bishop | |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | ... | Frank Sachs | |
| Skeet Ulrich | ... | Vincent | |
| Shirley Knight | ... | Beverly | |
| Yeardley Smith | ... | Jackie | |
| Lupe Ontiveros | ... | Nora | |
| Jill the Dog | ... | Verdell (as Jill) | |
 |
Timer the Dog | ... | Supporting Dog (as Timer) |
|
|
Billy the Dog | ... | Supporting Dog (as Billy) |
| Bibi Osterwald | ... | Neighbor Woman | |
|
|
Ross Bleckner | ... | Carl |
| Bernadette Balagtas | ... | Caterer | |
| Jaffe Cohen | ... | Partygoer | |
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. Written by Jon Reeves <jreeves@imdb.com>
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Comedies (especially romantic comedies) can only be judged by how much they make you laugh and if they make you feel good inside. As Good As It Gets does it for me every time. I'm not just saying this on account of being a "Jack fan." The characters are so beautifully drawn, you forget it's just Jamie from "Mad About You" (Helen Hunt) and the man with the eyebrows (Nicholson). This movie deserved all of its Oscars, and then some. The role of an obsessive-compulsive is an easy one to parody and mock to death, but Jack does it with style, humour, emotion, and that usual Nicholson flair. Hunt has never been better as a waitress with a major anxiety to do something for herself for a change. Greg Kinnear is also very good as a gay artist that ends up having to turn to the irascible Jack for help after he is scarred and left destitute following a break-in. This is such a special comedy, fresh from the pen of James L. Brooks, the man behind the wonderful Terms of Endearment (another wonderful Nicholson performance) and Broadcast News. As Good As It Gets made me feel so good, even though I couldn't really relate to the characters' situations. The humor is pure Jack, set to the script with perfect ease. The emotions evoked by the actors are also authentic and heart-felt, as if they love what they are acting out. Movies like this come few and far between, and that is the reason why I appreciate this film so very much. As Good As It Gets was one of the best films of 1997. Rating: Four stars.