As Good as it Gets (1997)

Director:	James L. Brooks
Actors:	Jack Nicholson, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Hunt

James L. Brooks is back in the saddle again with this delightful comedy of unusual tricks and characters. He creates a climate for three rich characterizations of people on the edge. Certainly Jack Nicholson as Melvin will be the most despised and loved character this season. That the actor could restrain himself as the obnoxious bully is a big plus for him. His obsessive-compulsive, bigoted novelist will really turn you off, than he spends the remainder of the movie winning you over with his lethal charm. His two big problems to overcome are Helen Hunt in a winning performance of mother and waitress and would be lover. She matches him every step of the way and shows us why she is such an excellent actress.Greg Kinnear plays the gay neighbor who really needs the help of Nicholson, as the straight neighbor, to watch over an incredible loveable neurotic dog. With probably the most enjoyable opening credits ever, they will set you laughing. The small dog really almost slowed the first half of the film, but after that it was the sharp dialogue that engages us in the spicy spiky script of James L Brooks.