What Women Want (2000)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers (WGA):

Josh Goldsmith (story) &
Cathy Yuspa (story) ...

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

After an accident, a chauvenistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking.

Plot Keywords:

Advertising | Thought | Sabotage | Online Auction | Man Pretending To Be Gay

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Nick Marshall
Helen Hunt	...	Darcy McGuire
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, Nick's Secretary
Ana Gasteyer	...	Sue Cranston
Lisa Edelstein	...	Dina
Loretta Devine	...	Flo the Doorwoman
Diana-Maria Riva	...	Stella

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #37911) | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The poem that Nick (Mel Gibson) starts reciting in order to keep from hearing his daughter's thoughts when he walk in on her and her boyfriend is "Casey At The Bat" written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in 1888.

Goofs:

Continuity: Darcy eats her martini garnish of 3 olives on a plastic pick all at once. Then a few minutes later she does it again.

Quotes:

[to Morgan Farwell]
Nick Marshall: She thinks you're overpaid... and gay.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Big Bang: (#1.2)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Nobody But Me

Hilarious! A laugh a minute!

Mel Gibson is known as sort of a macho action hero, and stereotyped into his Mad Max/Martin Riggs persona. But I've noticed (except for "Braveheart" and "The Patriot") he injects comic relief into almost anything he does. So doing a straight comedy doesn't seem like much of a stretch, and as you watch in a movie like this Gibson's timing and delivery is impeccable. On and off the camera, he has an incredible sense of humor, and he probably improvised some featured gags.

The premise is very original and interesting. A guy who can hear a woman's every thought? That's pretty much every man's fantasy. And the premise is used wisely. I laughed the whole way through! It's hilarious to watch Gibson emasculating himself by the minute, and the joke never runs dry.

I was laughing so much that I was able to tolerate the film's corny ending. I mean, when is a romantic comedy going to come along that doesn't feature a formulaic ending that is supposed to make people leave the theater and go "Awwww"?

The supporting cast is full of big stars. Bette Midler has an amusing cameo as a chain-smoking shrink. I only wish she could've had some additional scenes.

"What Women Want" is an original, feel-good comedy that will have you on the floor! This not a "chick flick." If you want to laugh--this is the movie to see! No questions asked!

My score: 8 (out of 10)