Viewers can see Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt in the lead parts of James L. Brooks’s As Good as it gets, a 1997 masterpiece with a mix of comedy and drama genres. Both Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt won Academy Awards for their portrayal of troubled individuals who find happiness in the company of one another in the screenplay (IMDb, n.d.). There are three different people portrayed in As Good As It Gets. Helen Hunt portrays Carol, a waitress originally from Brooklyn who is dealing with the difficulties of caring for her severely sick son. Simon, played by Greg Kinnear, is a successful homosexual fine artist who was brutally attacked in his studio by one of his models. Melvin, embodied by Jack Nicholson, is a novelist who is both nihilistic and prejudiced, suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and does not shy away from insulting anyone he meets.
Melvin’s mental illness ends up being the film’s central focus. Broadly speaking, the movie does a good job of depicting the experience of living with and the manifestations of OCD. However, the story ultimately implies that even people with intrusive illnesses can benefit from the love in their lives and broaden their horizons. Melvin, the protagonist, loosens as he takes care of Simon’s dog and starts a romance with Carol, the only server at the local eatery who will serve him despite his struggles (Brooks, 1997). The finale depicts Melvin embarking on a path toward recovery and a more settled lifestyle in a scene where he and Carol take a stroll together (Brooks, 1997). Normally, stepping on a crack in the sidewalk would be entirely out of his comfort zone as he approaches the doorway to an early pastry store for Carol, but he seems unfazed by the experience.
Melvin’s illness causes him to act in a variety of bizarre ways, which are illustrated throughout the movie. Understanding the protagonist’s problems and behaviors, as well as critiquing the film’s depiction of a mental disease, requires an understanding of what obsessive-compulsive disorder is. A prevalent, long-lasting, and often disabling mental illness, OCD is defined by intrusive, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and ritualized, self-imposed habits (compulsions) (Goodman et al., 2021). Melvin Udall’s ceremonial and evasive actions stem from his preoccupation with germs, indicating his so-called obsessions. Overwhelming hand-washing is depicted within the first few minutes of the film, making it clear that this is a prevalent habit among OCD patients. In the film, Jack Nicholson’s character repeatedly washes his hands in boiling water with a fresh bar of soap in an effort to eliminate any lingering germs (Brooks, 1997). The protagonist brings his own utensils to the restaurant, so he does not have to eat off of the unsanitary utensils provided by the establishment, avoiding touching other people as well (Brooks, 1997). His anxiety subsides as the world becomes more neat and tidy thanks to his routine plastic-ware arrangement.
Religiously adhering to routines, Melvin points to the fact that the movie intends to portray the tendency of anxiety levels skyrocketing whenever a mentally ill person’s schedule is altered in any way. Exposing all of these compulsions and habits serves as a reminder of the devastating impact mental illness can have on otherwise normal people’s lives. Udall realizes that his abnormal actions and behaviors are causing him stress in his day-to-day life, as evidenced by the fact that he instructs Simon’s dog not to behave like him.
There are many explicit and implicit lessons and inferences about living with a mental illness in this film. On the surface, compulsions take the form of overt acts or mental routines that help alleviate the suffering caused by the fixation. Worsening one’s life and adding unnecessary stress are the clear takeaways from all such practices. The mentally ill mind constantly fights against the voice of reason. Melvin’s compulsions bring up the issue on a more subtle level; his penchant for discarding new soaps’ is indicative of the mishandling of resources and the financial limitations that some people with mental illness may face.
Another subtle message implies that mental illness is a dual condition and a pattern that can be difficult to break. Melvin’s fixation on Carol is portrayed as both a positive and negative aspect. On the downside, he cannot enjoy a tranquil morning meal until Carol begins serving him food (Brooks, 1997). On the other side, having Carol is a remedy that eliminates all sources of tension and solves the underlying issue. Melvin’s discovery of love represents a significant milestone on the road to recovery and a more conventional existence, as the movie shows. Following Melvin on his quest to better himself for the sake of love allows seeing firsthand how challenging it is to make lasting changes and how simple it is to relapse back to old behavior patterns.
In my opinion, the movie successfully portrays the daily struggles and emotional toll that OCD takes on a person’s life. However, at times it lacks a realistic portrayal of how difficult it is to conquer OCD in realia, as the protagonist’s struggle with the disorder is resolved rather quickly. Nonetheless, I believe the film excels at shedding light on the hardships of living with compulsions and addictions. As a spectator, I was effortlessly drawn into empathy toward the characters and felt almost obliged to understand the devastating impact mental disease has on individuals and their social connections. The film leaves its viewers with a sense of optimism and the belief that anything can be improved upon with enough effort.
References
Brooks, J. (Director). (1997). As good as it gets [Film]. TriStar Pictures.
Goodman, W. K., Storch, E. A., & Sheth, S. A. (2021). Harmonizing the neurobiology and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 178(1), 17–29. Web.
IMDb. (n.d.). As Good as It Gets Awards. Web.