- Starring
- Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Alan Alda, Judy Greer
- Rating
- PG-13
- Genre
- Comedy, Romance, Romantic Comedy
- Release date
- December 15, 2000
- Where to watch
- Vudu (rent or buy), Amazon Prime (rent or buy)
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Rating Summary
What Women Want is a romantic comedy that will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between. The film’s clever premise follows a cocky ad executive, played by Mel Gibson, who gains the ability to read women’s thoughts after a freak accident. This newfound power throws his life and career into turmoil as he struggles to understand and connect with the opposite sex.
What Women Want
The film boasts a strong cast, with Gibson delivering a charming and likable performance as the lovable scoundrel and Helen Hunt turning in a delightful performance as the no-nonsense marketing executive who becomes his love interest. The supporting cast, including Marisa Tomei, Alan Alda, and Judy Greer, also deliver standout performances.
The script manages to blend comedy and romance in equal measure, tackling themes of self-discovery and redemption with wit and heart. The film’s resolution is satisfying without being overly predictable, making it the perfect date movie that is sure to leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Gibson’s character, Nick, is a classic example of the “loveable rogue” trope, a charming and charismatic man who has always relied on his good looks and smooth talk to get ahead in the business world. But when he gains the ability to read women’s thoughts, he is forced to confront his own biases and prejudices, and he begins to see the world in a whole new way.
As he struggles to understand and connect with the women in his life, he finds himself drawn to Darcy, played by Helen Hunt, a no-nonsense marketing executive who is initially put off by Nick’s chauvinistic attitude. But as he begins to understand and empathize with her struggles, their relationship deepens, and they begin to see each other in a whole new light.
Overall, What Women Want is a delightful and entertaining romantic comedy that is sure to please audiences of all ages. It’s the perfect date movie, and it’s sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. With its clever premise, strong performances, and heartwarming themes, it’s a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
WOKE ELEMENTS
The entire movie is predicated on the cartoonish concept of overly simple toxic misogynistic men and the virtue of the complexity and trials of women, especially professional women. However, Mel Gibson’s charisma and the film’s quality writing make up for much of its overt misandry.
James Carrick
James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.