As Good As It Get

As Good As It Gets

Life tends to become quite frantic and intense for most people now in days. Depending on how the events of their everyday lives are carried out, they could have a great affect on a persons' mood. In the movie "As Good As It Gets" starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, several of the Mood Disorders that affect people are portrayed in Nicholson's character. Jack Nicholson plays the role of Melvin Udall, a writer that lives in the city of Manhattan, who is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He also is not the nicest guy in town, to say the least. He is homophobic, rude, racist, and sexist. His disorder keeps him from living an ordinary life like everyone else; he is stuck to his same routine day after day. Melvin is afraid to touch objects that have not been sanitized or cleaned by him. On his daily routine Melvin goes by a neighborhood restaurant, where he wishes to be served by the same waitress everyday, Carol Connelly, played by Helen Hunt. Melvin befriends her early in the movie and one can clearly see the attraction Melvin has for her and they way that she makes him change. Melvin hates his neighbor Simon Bishop because of the fact that Simon is homosexual, and because of his small, annoying dog, which Melvin actually throws down a garbage chute early in the film.

After Simon is robbed and assaulted he is taken to the hospital and no one offers to take care of Simons' dog, Verdell. Melvin ultimately gets stuck with the dog, which gradually and slowly begins to change his ways, and helps him cope with his OCD. At first Melvin was disgusted by the animal but he began to bond with Verdell and became emotionally attached. It also made Melvin a much kinder person compared to his usual grumpy self. After Simon returns from the hospital he is surprised to see that Verdell has become accustomed to Melvin, and wonders how such an event could have happened. One day while on his regular routine to lunch, Carol, Melvin's waitress, does not show up for work because her son is sick. Melvin eventually begins to argue with other employees at the restaurant and gets himself kicked out. Taking matters into his own hands, Melvin hires a doctor to go over to Carol's house and take care of her son, at no expense to her, so that she can return to work and wait on him. This furthers the relationship with Carol and Melvin in an awkward way at first which begins to unravel slowly.

As Simon's financial status continues to plummet, he has no choice but to turn to his parents who have primarily abandoned him because of his homosexuality. Although Melvin tries to hide his kindness inside himself, it continues to leak out as he agrees to drive Simon to Baltimore, however, he also invite Carol to accompany the two on the trip. Carol and Simon begin to get along greatly on the road trip and Melvin begins to feel threatened by Simon at ruining his chances to be with Carol. One of the most important moments in the movies arises when Carol feels the need to go out and celebrate her son's well-being. Melvin and Carol go out to a fancy restaurant, Melvin actually goes out and buys a tie and jacket for the occasion because of his OCD, and Melvin unintentionally insults Carol's dress, and Carol wants an apology in the form of a compliment. Melvin replies, "You make me want to be a better man." Following the compliment Melvin and Carol share their first kiss together. However, Melvin destroys the harmony he has created by confessing that he wanted to see if Carol would have sex with Simon. When Carol reaches the hotel she eventually lets Simon sketch out pictures of her nude, which was what Simon was looking to do, find the spark in his art once again. Eventually, Simon does not need the help from