Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Cuba Gooding Jr

Director: James L. Brooks

Category: Comedy/Romance

Tag Line: Brace yourself for Melvin

Certificate: 15

Premise: Melvin the obsessive compulsive, trying to keep himself separate from his gay next-door neighbour, gets tangled into stuff he wished he hadn't when he 'agrees' to take care of the neighbour's dog, who he hates also!
However, he soon sees this as an opportunity to get a bit friendlier with a waitress in his local restaurant. This then leads to a trail of catastrophe and personal discovery for all parties involved.

Summary: I have wanted to see this film for some time, but my instinctual dislike of Jack Nicholson has always stopped me, until one rainy boring afternoon when the video shop had nothing else in stock worth watching.
However, my fears were soon quieted by the sheer brilliance and amazing humour found in this film. Nicholson is perfect as the obsessive compulsive, Melvin and even Helen Hunt was not her usual annoying self, but an incredibly endearing person who you wouldn't mind…., well, enough of that!
The story itself is almost a shambles, nothing seems to glue together in the story much. It is more of a fly on the wall type story, where no two parts of the story are connected in any way. However, maybe this was purposeful, just to highlight the randomness which is created in the minds of the individuals involved. Melvin's next door neighbour, Simon (The Queer) has his house robbed and himself beaten to a messy pulp and needs Melvin's help to look after his dog. Bear in mind that Melvin had recently sent the mutt down the garbage shute. So it was that Melvin ended up having to share his flat with the dog. No-one else has ever set foot in his flat, but for some reason, the dog likes him and he grows to like the dog. This is the start of Melvin's mental growth. He is learning there is more to life than writing cheesy romance novels and not stepping on pavement cracks.
This is helped when he grows fond of Helen Hunt, a waitress in his regular restaurant. When she is away, looking after her son, who is ill, he pays the spiralling medical bills and recruits a new doctor for him. The new doctor happens to be Harold Ramis, "Egon Spengler" from Ghostbusters, by the way!
Anyway, this is all because he wants her to come back to serve him lunch, but we all know that he wouldn't mind getting it on!
Anyway, due to the fact that Simon was burgled and beaten, he is bankrupt and needs some cash. So, Cuba Gooding Jr asks Melvin to drive Simon to his parents place on the other side of the country. Melvin is appauled at the idea, but again, sees it as an opportunity to get on a bit better with his waitress!
I cannot say any more, but watch this film. There are many good reasons why this film won the oscars it did.

Pros: It's Jack Nicholson in a comedy!
The script is full of fantastic quotes
Genuinely lovely tale

Cons: Cuba Gooding Jr overacts his part rather too much
The focus of the story tends to waver at times…not much though!

Rating: 9/10