Melvin Udall, a curmudgeonly novelist with obsessive-compulsive disorder, is played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson. This is probably the best portrayal of OCD I've ever seen on film, and one of the best portrayals of mental illness generally.
Udall is also a hateful homophobic and deeply racist narcissist who seems completely incapable of empathy and has no verbal filter. He is profoundly unlikable. The way this film associates Udall's mental illness with his being a colossally abrasive ass is highly troubling.
That said, through the vehicle a cute dog, we are convincingly led to believe that there may be some hope for the man. But then we come to the crux of the story; he may want to be better, but in reality, it's as good as it gets.
Nicholson's portrayal of Melvin is iconic, capturing the character's abrasive nature and at least some underlying vulnerability. Helen Hunt delivers a touching performance as Carol, a single mother and waitress who forms an unlikely bond with Melvin. Greg Kinnear is perfect as Simon, Melvin's artist neighbor, bringing humor and heart. Cuba Gooding Jr. is terrific as the one person we keep hoping will beat the crap out of Udall.
For some viewers the relationship between Melvin and Carol may seem rushed and unconvincing. She spends much of the film, to the end, giving reasons that the two shouldn't even be friends much less anything else. And she is completely correct. The profound problems with Udell in particular, so adeptly portrayed by Nicholson, would seem to get sacrificed for the rom-com ending. But I'm not sure I see it that way. What we're being told here is that the perfect, even the "good" in fact, doesn't exist. It's as good as it gets. In that light, the film is actually kind of a downer.
"Some of us have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But a lot of people, that's their story. Good times, noodle salad."
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