What Women Want (2000)

After an accident, a chauvinistic 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 & 8 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 | f rated | pantyhose | ex husband ex wife relationship | psychic power | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Mel Gibson waxes his legs in his bathroom, he actually did wax his legs, and it did not hurt him nearly as much as it hurt him in the movie. He kept taunting all the women on-set, saying, "Come on, this doesn't hurt at all!"

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Goofs

When Nick thinks he's in line for a promotion to creative director, he and his staff make numerous references to moving up to the 44th floor. Immediately prior, there is an exterior shot of their building that is no more than 15 stories.

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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

Referenced in CollegeHumor Originals: The Official List of What You Have to Watch (2014)

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Soundtracks

My Pander Bear
Written by Mark Isham
Courtesy of Hollywood Records

User Reviews

We know it now

"What Women Want" has a unusual plot which also makes us (men) think: what do women really want? The final conclusion is that they want happiness, just like men.

Despite being a predictable movie and nothing extraordinary, at least it teaches to us (men) some valuable lessons about women. It's a good way to understand and know them better.

The first hour of this movie is great fun, very entertaining and pure comedy. During the first hour we have some moments to give us good laughs. Mel Gibson has never been this funny before. He plays a hilarious character: Nick Marshall, a typical "macho men" or a "men's man". The kind of man that other men admire and want to be like him. The kind of man who doesn't understand a thing about women (although seen as a "God's gift" to women). Nick is proud, rich, chauvinistic, single and loves to hear Frank Sinatra.

After an accident with the hairdryer, he suddenly has the power of hearing what women think and what they think of him isn't what he expected. He sees this as a curse, but after being convinced by a psychologist that he could take advantage of this gift, he uses it to manipulate Darcy McGuire.

However, in the second half, the movie fails, becoming predictable and somehow lame, losing all its comical side. Some ridiculous and silly things happen in the second half. Also, I rather the "old" Nick than the "good" Nick, because the "old" Nick was much funnier. He becomes the "good guy" in the second half, losing his sense of humor.

This movie has some nice songs, such as "I Won't Dance" (performed by Frank Sinatra), "I've Got You Under My Skin" (performed by Frank Sinatra in a duet with Bono) and "Bitch" (performed by Meredith Brooks).

Mel Gibson is great and charming as Nick Marshall, while Helen Hunt is okay and pretty in the role of Darcy McGuire.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

What Women Want

Filming Locations:

Dresden Room Restaurant - 1760 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,614,543, 17 December 2000

Gross USA:

$182,811,707

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$374,111,707

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