AS GOOD AS IT GETS (Tri-Star) "How do you write women so beautifully?" a gushing fan asks romance novelist Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson). "I think of a man," the scribe replies, "and take away reason and accountability." That's one of the gentler put-downs dispensed by this acid-tongued obsessive-compulsive, a walking testament to the power of negative thinking, and in the mouth of anyone but Nicholson such crude remarks would probably have been horrifying rather than humorous. The miracle of "As Good As It Gets" lies in how writer-director James Brooks delicately balances the tone of the picture between comedy and pathos, an accomplishment that's truly astonishing, given the film's 138-minute running time. But Brooks' deft touch won't surprise those who remember the skill he demonstrated in his Oscar-winning "Terms of Endearment" (1983) and Oscar-nominated "Broadcast News" (1987): "As Good" marks a smashing return-to-form. Several intertwining stories make up the movie's core. Early on, it appears this will be a raucous farce about Melvin and his feud with a gay neighbor named Simon (Greg Kinnear), a painter whose scuffy little dog irritates Melvin to no end. But then the focus shifts to the cheerfully abrasive relationship between Melvin and put-upon waitress Carol (Helen Hunt), the only server in Melvin's favorite cafe who can stand him long enough to take his order. Before long we're introduced to Carol's backstory, involving rotten dates and a sickly son. Where is this movie going? Just sit back and savor the ride. Rest assured that eventually the various strands will come together, and "As Good As It Gets" will emerge as a sensational comedy that manages to celebrate life while at the same time laughing at its strange twists of fate. The cast is pure magic: Nicholson, in one of his most fully rounded performances in years, creates one of the year's most memorable characters, but Hunt and Kinnear (who does a magnificent Nicholson impersonation at one point) are equally fine in less-showy parts. And Jill, the adorably ugly canine star, deserves credit for her contribution to the film's success. While the holidays are often a time when consumers fall victim to the inflated claims and hyperactive hype of advertisers, anyone buying a ticket to "As Good As It Gets" can take comfort in knowing that, in this case, the title doesn't lie.
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