As Good as It Gets (1997)

Nicholson delivers a top performance as the misanthropic Melvin whose OCD and tirades are central to this politically incorrect comedy. The story follows his gradual, self-interested redemption aided by caring for a dog and interactions with Hunt and Kinnear, resulting in a well-paced and amusing redemption arc.

The critic finds the film lazily directed and overly long but praises Helen Hunt's revelatory performance as the waitress, which outshines Jack Nicholson's grouchy lead and earned her an Oscar alongside his.

The critic highlights the strong script and affecting key performances that allow the film to mix mean-spirited comedy with heart-tugging drama without dragging or ringing false. Brooks is praised for evoking sympathy for the lead character and for the thoughtful examination of relationships.

The film creates memorable characters but settles for a conventional romantic arc that feels like a compromise. Strong dialogue and performances stand out despite the predictable happy ending.

The critic finds the acidic love story warms the heart despite its testy elements and calls it mature adult entertainment at its best. Strong praise goes to the lead performances by Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.

The film is a bittersweet comedy about an obsessive-compulsive novelist and a waitress forming an unlikely romance. Nicholson's performance is the main draw allowing the anti-social behaviour to work, though the film is enjoyable but falls short of its title's promise.

Brooks backs his high-strung characters into happiness with quirky appeal and right-on zingers. The film succeeds through barbed wit and enjoyment of its characters' stubborn tics.

The critic finds the film a predictable comedy of redemption that relies too heavily on Jack Nicholson's familiar tics and spoon-feeds its audience with sentiment rather than genuine emotion. While acknowledging its commercial success and Oscar nominations, the review suggests it lacks real depth despite strong performances from Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear.

Sitcom roots show in this sporadically funny but tonally inconsistent romantic comedy. Nicholson's one-liners and crowd-pleasing elements work, but the messy shifts make characters tiresome.

The critic highlights Jack Nicholson's Oscar-winning performance as the standout element that makes the film work despite its implausibilities. They note the strong chemistry between leads and the old-fashioned Hollywood charm delivered by director James L. Brooks.

The critic finds the film overly long and sitcom-like but praises the star performances that make an unlikeable protagonist endearing. Nicholson excels in a showy role, Hunt brings genuine feeling, and Kinnear avoids clichés.