What Women Want (2000)

After an accident, a chauvenistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking.

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers:

Josh Goldsmith (story), Cathy Yuspa (story),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Nick Marshall
Helen Hunt	...	Darcy Maguire
Marisa Tomei	...	Lola
Alan Alda	...	Dan Wanamaker
Ashley Johnson	...	Alex Marshall
Mark Feuerstein	...	Morgan Farwell
Lauren Holly	...	Gigi
Delta Burke	...	Eve
Valerie Perrine	...	Margo
Judy Greer	...	Erin the File Girl
Sarah Paulson	...	Annie
Ana Gasteyer	...	Sue Cranston
Lisa Edelstein	...	Dina
Loretta Devine	...	Flo the Doorwoman
Diana Maria Riva	...	Stella

Storyline

Nick, a somewhat chauvinistic advertising exec hot shot, has his life turned haywire when a fluke accident enables him to hear what women think. At first all he wants to do is rid himself of this curse, until a wacky psychologist shows him that this could be used to his advantage! His first target is Darcy McGuire, the very woman that got the promotion he wanted. But just as his plan is beginning to work, love gets in the way...

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Plot Keywords:

advertising | playboy | psychiatrist | sabotage | electrocuted in bathtub | 

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Taglines:

He has the power to hear everything women are thinking. Finally... a man is listening.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ce que veulent les femmes

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£3,375,075 (UK) (2 February 2001)

Gross:

ESP 1,712,022,838 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Icon Entertainment International, Wind Dancer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ad agencies are loosely based around the Chicago agency Leo Burnett and the New York agency BBDO.

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Goofs

Darcy's hair changes constantly between long shots and close ups in her speech in the first meeting she has with the staff.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Woman: [voiceover] You know the expression, "a man's man". A man's man is the leader of the pack, the kind of man other men look up to, admire, and emulate. A man's man is the kind of man who - just doesn't get what women are about.
Gigi: Nick, my ex-husband, is the ultimate man's man. I probably never should have married him. I don't think he understood a thing about me.

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Connections

Featured in The Jay Leno Show: Episode #1.87 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Night and Day"
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by The Temptations
Courtesy of Motown Records Company, L.P.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Hilarious! A laugh a minute!

Mel Gibson is known as sort of a macho action hero, and stereotyped into his Mad Max/Martin Riggs persona. But I've noticed (except for "Braveheart" and "The Patriot") he injects comic relief into almost anything he does. So doing a straight comedy doesn't seem like much of a stretch, and as you watch in a movie like this Gibson's timing and delivery is impeccable. On and off the camera, he has an incredible sense of humor, and he probably improvised some featured gags.

The premise is very original and interesting. A guy who can hear a woman's every thought? That's pretty much every man's fantasy. And the premise is used wisely. I laughed the whole way through! It's hilarious to watch Gibson emasculating himself by the minute, and the joke never runs dry.

I was laughing so much that I was able to tolerate the film's corny ending. I mean, when is a romantic comedy going to come along that doesn't feature a formulaic ending that is supposed to make people leave the theater and go "Awwww"?

The supporting cast is full of big stars. Bette Midler has an amusing cameo as a chain-smoking shrink. I only wish she could've had some additional scenes.

"What Women Want" is an original, feel-good comedy that will have you on the floor! This not a "chick flick." If you want to laugh--this is the movie to see! No questions asked!

My score: 8 (out of 10)