"Where Movie Critics Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine!"
|
|
out
of 4 stars (PG-13)
CRITIC DOCTOR EXAMINES: Chris Gore (filmthreat.com), Susannah Breslin (roughcut.com), Elizabeth Weitzman (film.com), Eric Lurio (Greenwich Village Gazette), Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times), Elvis Mitchell (New York Times), Rob Blackwelder (splicedonline.com), Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times) and Susan Stark (Detroit News).
The moment I heard there was going to be a movie about a man
who could read women's minds, I knew we were in for something
special. Despite what most critics said, this was one fun movie!
"What Women Want" brings us Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson)
and he is the epitome of a male chauvinist. He's a rich Chicago
advertising executive who one day obtains the power to read the
minds of women - making for some very humorous and interesting
situations.
Chris Gore (filmthreat.com) said, "Women are going
to love it as the film validates much of their negative perceptions
about 'guys.' Heck, I started to loathe and despise all men on
the planet and I am one!"
Stop already with the self-hate stuff, Chris! We're not that bad.
You simply didn't see that the film poked fun at BOTH men and
women - a brilliant satire comedy targeting both sexes. Some critics
thought this hurt the film, though.
Susannah Breslin (roughcut.com) said, "Most troubling, and probably the film's greatest failure, is that it simply seems unable to pick sides in the gender war: it's as caught up in despising macho men as it is disgusted with modern women. Throughout, we're left torn between hating men or hating women."
This is not a failure, Susannah. Picking on one sex
would have been. Elizabeth Weitzman (film.com) got it right:
"This is not a great comedy, but it has some honest laughs,
a few touching moments, and a welcome balance between the girls
and the boys."
Eric Lurio (Greenwich Village Gazette) said, "He soon
concludes that women are indeed BETTER than men in all respects
and this is confirmed as Alex's boyfriend dumps her when she won't
put out."
This doesn't conclude crap, Eric! The movie didn't say women are
better than men. It may conclude certain type of men (those who
use women for only sex at the expense of their feelings) may be
the scum of the earth. We all know there are women who use men,
too. As far as sex, if men could read women's minds in bed, women
might actually welcome it!
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) said, "I also liked
the way Gibson handled the sex scene, where his look of joy and
complete self-satisfaction at the end is equaled only by Jack
Nicholson's famous Triumph T-shirt moment in "Five Easy Pieces."
Even those men who didn't like this movie will enjoy this scene.
Elvis Mitchell (New York Times) said, "If the movie
had the courage to show that women are complex people, it would
be a much more inspired picture.
Elvis? I think your brain has left the building. This was
not a complex movie and therefore did not require complex notions
of women - or men. Nancy Meyers took some fundamental differences
from an extreme angle and had fun with it. Thanks to Mel Gibson
and Helen Hunt - it worked!
Rob Blackwelder (splicedonline.com) said, "Yet, despite
the fact that both are fine actors, there just doesn't seem to
be much chemistry between them."
Gibson and Hunt were a perfect match, Rob. I'm one guy
who generally likes romantic comedies and if the romance weren't
there - then the film wouldn't have worked for me. Granted it
wasn't the best love story of all time, but it wasn't meant to
be. "What Women Want" was more comedy focused.
Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times) said, "The most
moving moment it provides is a Nike commercial for female runners
created by the real-life Weiden-Kennedy Agency. When that's your
emotional high spot, you know you're in trouble."
This was your emotional high spot in the film, Ken? If
you thought a Nike© commercial was a higher spot than Gibson's
G-spot scene, then I think it is you who is in trouble.
Susan Stark (Detroit News) summed the movie up best: "It's
a romantic comedy with a distinctly modern, delicate but sharp,
satirical cutting edge."
What women want are men to understand them. But don't men want
the same thing? It doesn't take a mind reader to figure that one
out. The fact is we don't understand each other and that's why
we will forever have romantic comedies.
--CRITIC DOCTOR
© Copyright 2001 by Herb Kane
All rights reserved.
|
|
CAST: Mel Gibson (Nick Marshall), Helen Hunt (Darcy Maguire),
Marisa Tomei (Lola), Lauren Holly (Gigi) and Alan Alda (Dan Wanamaker)
DIRECTOR: Nancy Meyers
PRODUCERS: Susan Cartsonis, Bruce Davey, Gina Matthews,
Nancy Meyers, Matt Williams
SCREENPLAY: Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures
RELEASE DATE: 12.15.00
RUNNING TIME: 110 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Sexual humor, situations and language)
|
|