 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
As Good as It Gets
- Review Date: September 19, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Funny, but not a light comedy for youngsters.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film deals candidly with homophobia, violence, mortality, and mental disorders. It includes a very violent and disturbing attack on one of the main characters, which leaves the man hospitalized and disfigured. A character verbally abuses others as a means of coping with his own extreme self-centered and (clinically) obsessive-compulsive behavior.
What's the story?
In AS GOOD AS IT GETS, Jack Nicholson plays Melvin, a hostile, reclusive, obsessive-compulsive romance writer who lives his life eating with plastic flatware, avoiding stepping on cracks, and steering clear of dirt, human contact, or disorder. The film follows the intersecting lives of Melvin, his gay artist neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), and a local waitress, Carol (Helen Hunt), the mother of a chronically ill child. After a brutal attack on Simon, Melvin is forced to disrupt his orderly life to care for his neighbor's dog (and in the process Simon). Ultimately, the film examines the trio's initial disdain for each other and the ways in which their circumstances can assist them in achieving physical and mental well-being.
Is it any good?
Helen Hunt (Mad About You) and Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) garnered well-deserved Academy Awards and a nomination for Kinnear (Talk Soup)for their true-to-life performances. Often pitched as a romantic comedy, As Good as it Gets eschews the saccharine aftertaste of many such films. Instead, it provides sometimes-painful moments of self-discovery and the possibility for a pleasant (though less than "normal") tomorrow for its trio characters.
Parents might want to consider their child's level of maturity before allowing them to watch this movie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about issues such as tolerance, mental illness, and personal strength. What is at the bottom of Melvin's homophobic remarks toward Simon? What helps him overcome these feelings? The film illustrates the struggles of a single mother attempting to care for her chronically ill child and live a life of her own. Parents may want to use this opportunity to discuss a topic seldom considered by adolescents: the lives of parents beyond the needs of their children.
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- All members
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Stereotypical
Didn't like the way it portrayed people with mental disorders at all. Also, I didn't find the storyline very interesting. It had too much bad language in it for my likings.
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AGE
One of my faves
This is one of my favorite films, for many reasons. First off, it has tremendous acting (most notably by masterful Jack Nicholson) and a wonderful plot, that's a bit "Little Miss Sunshine"-esque. It has many redeeming qualities, although Nicholson's character is a grouchy old racist. It tells us to accept others although Nicholson's character shows strong homophobia toward Kinnear's character. It tells us that violence hurts more than just the body, although Kinnear's character is brutally beaten in a nearly glorified manner. And finally, it tells us that anyone can fall in love, even though the three leads have immense romantic troubles. So, please, see this film. You WILL NOT be sorry.
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AGE
extremely great dramedy, but there's a beating with horrible results, some sexual content and nude posing, plus 3 f-words used by the same character (Helen Hunt). However, it's an amazing film.
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AGE
Watch out
I Think Its Great, Just Watch Our For Surprise F-Bombs (There Are only 3 f-bombs in the movie) (Ages 14+)
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AGE
This movie was pretty funny. I was laughing alot actually but theres more to thisd then comedy as well. There is really only one scene thats violent but Its pretty violent, strong language for PG-13 and sexuality. Good movie but should of been R-rated.
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AGE
BEST FILM EVER MADE
The most TOUCHING INSPIRING ROMANTIC film ever made a must see for teens and kids 12 and up Nickilson gives a show stopping preformance as Melvin Udall a grumpy rude author who has severe Obssieve complution dissorder but when his neighborSimon is in a life threatning situtaion and is in the hospital melvin has no choice but to watch simons dog. After that he becomes a caring kind person and learns what love is all about.
rating green=OK yellow= so-so red= not OK
Sex yellow
volience yellow
drugs green
laungage RED over 5 f@*s
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | James L. Brooks |
| Cast: | Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Hunt, Jack Nicholson |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 139 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | May 19, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | appeal for strong language, thematic elements, nudity and a beating |
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