What Women Want
reviewed by Lynn Barker
Picture this: macho BRAVEHEART/MAD MAX Mel Gibson, waxing his
legs and painting his fingernails! Weird mental image, huh? No,
Gibson hasn't cross-dressed over to the other side. He's just
a driven ad executive trying to figure out WHAT WOMEN WANT.
In his first romantic comedy, Mel plays chauvinist supreme NICK
MARSHALL, the ultimate "man's man" who is at the top of the advertising
game creating studly beer and sports commercials. When his boss
DAN WANAMAKER (Alan Alda), decides that the right "man" for the
top Creative Director job at his agency is a woman (DARCY MAGUIRE
played by Helen Hunt), poor Nick feels passed over and emasculated!
The electric fingers of fate "zap" Nick in his bathtub (his hair
dryer falls in) and whoa!! he can hear the inner most thoughts
of every woman he crosses paths with.
At first, this newfound power overwhelms and freaks Nick. He
learns that he's not nearly as charming as he thought. In fact,
most women think he's a jerk! But, hey, Nick gets paid to put
a "spin" on everything and decides he can turn this new trick
to his advantage. He reads Darcy's mind and "steals" her new ad
campaign for Nike all while falling in love with her. Learning
the true thoughts of women also puts single dad Nick in touch
with his teen daughter for the first time and makes him realize
how badly he's treated a nerdy mail girl in his office. After
losing his new "power", he does his best to right both wrongs
and, when Darcy is fired, he goes all out to save her job and
the romance.
WHAT WOMEN WANT is a great date flick. A lot of guys can identify
with Mel's character and the transition he makes. He never loses
his masculinity even in a really funny scene in which he tries
out various women's products in order to think up an ad campaign.
The story of Nick's teen daughter isn't the main storyline but
her problems are ones all teens face and it's satisfying to see
her relationship with her dad change for the better. There are
some great actors in minor roles here too; Bette Midler as a zany
psychiatrist, Marisa Tomei as one of Nick's girlfriends and Delta
Burke and Valerie Perrine as sweet but brainless office assistants.
The only really lame development in the film is the "gimmick"
that gives Nick his powerÉsuddenly being able to read female minds
because you get conveniently zapped by various forms of electricity
is a little hard to buy. Overall, Helen Hunt has perfect comedic
timing and is well-cast in her role. Gibson shows the comedy ability
we saw in all the "Lethal Weapon" films but time it's fine-tuned
and aimed at WHAT WOMEN WANT. Guys, take your date. Gurls, go
with your best gal pals.
Rated: PG-13 Opens: December 15th
Directed by: Nancy Meyers ("Father of the Bride", "Private Benjamin")
Screenplay by: Josh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa ("King of Queens")
and Diane Drake
Starring: Mel Gibson as Nick Marshall, Helen Hunt as Darcy Maguire,
Alan Alda as Dan Wanamaker, Marisa Tomei as Lola, Lauren Holly
as Gigi, Delta Burke as Eve, Valerine Perrine as Margo, Judy Greer
as Erin, and Ashley Johnson as Alex Marshall
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.whatwomenwantmovie.com
