Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A misanthropic author, a single mother and waitress, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.
As Good as It Gets earns its reputation primarily through Jack Nicholson's Oscar-winning performance as Melvin Udall — a genuinely exceptional turn that anchors the film. Helen Hunt also delivers a warm, grounded performance worthy of her Oscar. The plot is functional and character-driven but follows a fairly predictable arc of misanthrope-learns-to-love, leaning on the romantic comedy structure without much subversion. Cinematographically it's competent New York filmmaking without distinction. The ending is satisfying and emotionally earned but not surprising. Novelty is moderate — OCD as a comedic device was relatively fresh at the time, and the three-way unlikely friendship gave the film a distinct texture, though it never fully breaks the mold of the genre.