WHAT WOMEN WANT -- Nancy Meyers, dir

©2000
studio: Paramount
production company: Centropolis Entertainment, Icon Entertainment International, Paramount Pictures, Wind Dancer Productions
dir: Nancy Meyers
story: Josh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa and Diane Drake
screenplay: Josh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa
cast: Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Alan Alda,Marisa Tomei, Ashley Johnson, Mark Feuerstein

A chauvenistic ad executive gets the power to read women's minds, an ability which helps him secure a lucrative female products contract.

I enjoyed this movie, though the ending really took a nose-dive. Why does Helen Hunt "have" to fire the man after he reveals what he did and what he knew? First of all, does she do so on his word only? What about the contract, which requested him to work on it? It really seemed out of place.

I'm not a huge Mel Gibson fan, but I thought he did a fine job. I actually liked his character somewhat, even though they were setting him up to be completely chauvenistic. The fact that he was gutsy enough to wear the panty-hose and nail polish and try the waxing products ... all BEFORE he gained the ability to read women's minds ... suggests that he was willing to go the extra mile for his career. I never felt like he was given proper credit for this trait.

I'm not sure what it is about her, but I like Helen Hunt. And except for the end, I felt she played the part well. She came across strong, but vulnerable.

Even Alan Alda finally came across as someone other than "Hawkeye" for a change.

I wouldn't recommend this as a "must see," but if a guy must watch a "chick flick" then this is a decent choice.