As Good As It Gets

Writer/director/producer James L. Brooks brings this romantic comedy to life with the superb performances of Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson, who both won Oscars® for Best Actress and Best Actor. Nicholson's Melvin Udall is a surly, obsessive-compulsive, unlikely romance novelist who falls in love with Carol (Hunt), a down-to-earth waitress whose priority is to take care of her chronically ill son. When Melvin's gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear) is beaten and robbed, Melvin grudgingly takes care of his dog, Verdell. Melvin's new relationships, especially with the scene-stealing Verdell, help him form a more compassionate outlook on life. Nicholson's Melvin seems to relish each lengthy turn of phrase in this cleverly written script that bears Brooks' trademark of smartly blending drama and humor.