Details
Movie Description
Director, writer, and producer Nancy Meyers's (THE PARENT TRAP) sophomore directorial effort is a lively screwball fantasy featuring Mel Gibson in his first romantic comedy. Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a high-flying chauvinistic Chicago advertising executive who, like his musical idol, Frank Sinatra, calls women "baby" and believes he has the world on a string. Nick experiences a rude awakening when the creative director position he coveted goes to Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), a savvy outsider--and a woman--who intends to aggressively pursue the lucrative women's market. While trying to brainstorm ideas for "feminine" products, Nick experiences a freak accident that gives him the ability to hear women's thoughts. Determined to win back his stolen job, Nick uses his terrifying yet useful new talent to scrutinize Darcy and finds his smart, beautiful rival may not be the "bitch on wheels" he imagined. Meanwhile, he also must maneuver carefully within complex relationships with his estranged teenage daughter, Alex (Ashley Johnson), and a pretty coffee shop waitress, Lola (Marisa Tomei). Once Nick begins to listen to the new voices he hears, his previous worldview is challenged, and he finds that he finally might understand what women want.
Film Notes
Theatrical release: December 15, 2000.
Director Nancy Meyers has cowritten many well-known screenplays with her husband, writer-director Charles Shyer, including PRIVATE BENJAMIN, IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES, and FATHER OF THE BRIDE.
Mel Gibson (Nick Marshall) is also an accomplished director--his film BRAVEHEART won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Helen Hunt (Darcy Maguire) won a Best Actress Oscar for her role in AS GOOD AS IT GETS and five Best Actress Emmy awards for playing Jamie Buchman on the popular sitcom MAD ABOUT YOU.
Alan Alda (Dan Wanamaker) won five Emmy awards for portraying Hawkeye Pierce on the beloved television series M*A*S*H, which ran for 11 years. Alda was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994.
Screenwriters Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa are both writers and producers for the popular television sitcom THE KING OF QUEENS.
Industry Reviews
"...Gibson [is] always a lethal weapon, even without a gun in his pocket." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - Susan Wloszczyna (12/15/2000)
"...Fizzy screwball comedy....[Gibson gives] a disarmingly nimble, fast-break performance..." -- Rating: B
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (01/12/2001)
"...Gibson plays the facets of his ever-transmogrifying persona with flair at every turn: Even his hedonistic incarnation is able to sweep the audience..."
Box Office - Christine James (02/01/2001)
"...A touch of magic realism and a dash of slapstick....There are plenty of laughs along the way..."
Total Film - Alan Morrison (03/01/2001)
"...Often very funny....The look and feel of the movie is just right..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (12/15/2000)
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