As Good As It Gets is one of those incredibly moving films that is also hugely entertaining. It's not just a comedy, you can't quite label it a drama piece, it just is what it is; simply great.

What works here so well are the actors and the script. Nicholson and Hunt both won Oscars and they're simply great but Kinnear is no less effective as Nicholson gay neighbour. Plus that dog is amazing as well. This film really relies on great performances and there's no shortage of that here.

As Good As It Gets is also remarkably well written. So well defined characters and completely involving, you quite simply grow to love them and sympathize with their plight. Nicholson's remarks are terrific, each one very quotable (personal fav; I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability).

Direction is first rate, Brooks made Terms of Endearment so it's well established that he's quite capable of making great films. As Good As It Gets is very nearly as good it gets.

4.5/5

James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News) directed this $50 million-plus romantic comedy, set in Manhattan. Dysfunctional, acid-tongued romance novelist Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder, takes pride in his ability to offend. At a nearby cafe, the only waitress willing to stand up to his sarcastic tirades is Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), a single mother struggling to raise her chronically asthmatic son. In Melvin's West Village apartment building, talented contemporary artist Simon Nye (Greg Kinnear) lives across the hall from Melvin. Simon is the current darling of the New York art world, reason enough to draw Melvin's verbal fire, but Simon's gay lifestyle is further grist for the novelist's malicious mill. These three New Yorkers, none of whom appears to have a chance in hell at finding true happiness, discover their fates intertwined because of the fourth complicated character in the piece, Verdell, a tiny Brussels Griffon dog (played by newcomer Jill, after a 15-week training program). Melvin seems to have no friends or family, and he lives alone, working on his 62nd book. When Simon goes into the hospital after a brutal mugging, Melvin has to take care of Verdell, and the dog actually warms Melvin's cold heart -- to the degree that he sets up unsolicited medical care for Carol's son. Eventually, Melvin is cornered into driving Simon and Carol to Baltimore, and during a hotel stopover, Melvin confesses to Carol, "You make me want to be a better man." The trip becomes an odyssey of self-realization for all three.

Starring, Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich , Shirley Knight , Yeardley Smith , Lupe Ontiveros , Jesse James , Harold Ramis , Jamie Kennedy , Leslie Stefanson , Wood Harris.

Directed by the superb director, James L. Brooks. who directed movies like Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News.

Nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Original score, Film Editing, Actor in a supporting role Greg Kinnear, Actor in a lead role Jack Nicholson and Actress in a lead role Helen Hunt. it won 2 Oscars for both the lead actors.

ok this has to be one of the best romantic comedies ever. its not like any other, weird plot, weird situations, unusual love. it has 3 main characters, Melvin is a misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive novelist who has his own sets of weird annoying rules, Carol is a single mother and works at a restaurant where Melvin eats and she only serves him, her son Spencer is suffering from asthma. and Simon is a gay artist with financial problems. i am not gonna go through the story details which u can at the first paragraph.

Jack Nicholson won 3 Oscars till now, one for every decade. i haven't seen Cuckoo's nest but this one was so well deserved i mean just a superb performance. and he completely fits in the character. his actions his behavior is so annoying and really cold but that is how he is. u will laugh due to him in some places, at the others you will feel for him, somewhere you just would like to slap him and the others you will blame his condition. like so many shades, he pulled this character quite well which is great. superb and brilliant performance. on the other hand Helen Hunt gave the best performance of her entire career and probably on of the very best female performance to win an Oscar. she is just outstanding and her body language her expressions her crying her anger everything is so purely and lovely done. excellent performance. Greg Kinnear as Melvin's gay neighbor was quite nice but truly i wasn't very impressed by his performance. still he grabs your attention in some scenes where he pulls your heartstrings. overall great performances from a cast of a rom com.

James L Brooks' last 2 movies were a disaster, but his first 3 movies as a director were just superb. he made this movie very well and quite appreciable. Screenplay of this movie was the very good thing about it because it was very well written. great story with so much dept in the characters and everything. complicated relationship of these unusual people in unusual situations in love, they try so hard to work it out which leaves us laughing, crying and feeling for them. good character developments with well told story. great editing and good score.

this is one of my all time favorite movies. a deeply felt, moving, sad and funny bitter sweet romantic comedy. Must See.

Jack Nicholson is so fantastic in this kind of role. It is impossible not to laugh at him at least 20 times. I watched it for a lot of times and it is still a sweet movie. nicholson is awesome as always. The rest of the cast is really good too. Helen Hunt is just as great and they make a good couple together.