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6.4/10
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416 user 155 critic

What Women Want (2000)

A cocky, chauvinistic advertising executive magically acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking.

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers:

Josh Goldsmith (story), Cathy Yuspa (story) | 3 more credits »
Reviews
Popularity
2,214 ( 563)
Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

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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
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Storyline

Advertising executive Nick Marshall is as cocky as they come, but what happens to a chauvinistic guy when he can suddenly hear what women are thinking? Nick gets passed over for a promotion, but after an accident enables him to hear women's thoughts, he puts his newfound talent to work against Darcy, his new boss, who seems to be infatuated with him. Written by yusufpiskin

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

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


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The ad agencies are loosely based around the Chicago agency Leo Burnett, and the New York City agency BBDO. See more »

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. See more »

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 The Exorcist (1973) See more »

Soundtracks

Yay Boy
Written by Pape Serigne Seck
Performed by Africando
Courtesy of Stern's Africa
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User Reviews

It reminded me of one of those late 50's early 60's romantic comedies.
1 October 2001 | by meadowlarkSee all my reviews

A new creative director (Helen Hunt) is hired by an ad agency (run by Alan Alda) to bring it up to date by appealing to the women's market. Mel Gibson, an account executive and a real man's man, was slated for that position, and he wants to get rid of Hunt. At her first staff meeting, Hunt gives each person a package of various women's products, and each must come up with a campaign for at least one of the items.

At home, Gibson tries out the products in a tour de force of cross-dressing. Funny, if not roll on the floor hilarious, and he does it with an aplomb that makes it look so easy that you at the very least have to admire his skill. In the process, Gibson falls into a tub, followed by a live hair dryer, and receives a shock that alters his brain so that he can hear the thoughts of women. As a result, he bowls everyone over, especially Hunt, with his creative insight into the women's market. Now he's got her right where he wants her...or so he thinks. But creative insight turns out to be a two-edged sword.

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. It reminded me of one of those late 50's early 60's romantic comedies, at least in its earlier scenes. In fact, I liked it so much that it made me feel sorry for Woody Allen. His "Curse of the Jade Dragon" suffers by comparison. I mention it, because Allen's film also stars Helen Hunt and, interestingly, has a similar situation–a woman is hired on to bring a company up to date, and she threatens to disrupt the man's career. Even mind-alteration is involved, although of a different kind.

I think the mind-reading premise is brilliant and is set in just the right context, and Hunt and Gibson played off each other very well. I've seen Mel Gibson on a couple of Jay Leno shows, and he seemed ill-at-ease and sometimes a little abrupt, as though he were either very shy, not too bright, or for some reason just didn't want to be there. But what a difference when he's on screen and playing a role that in bygone days would have been filled by Jack Lemmon or Tony Randall or Rock Hudson. Ok, maybe he's not the all-round actor that Lemmon was, but he fit that particular role perfectly. And he even does a bit of a Gene Kelly routine!


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

What Women Want See more »

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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
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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