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It's the 1980s and the young American women aged 16-24 are the fast growing market in the
country. The Sloan Curtis advertising agency needs to make quick changes. Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson), womanizer and chauvinist, is an advertising executive who is certain of
being promoted as Creative Director. He is dismayed when displaced by beautiful, talented and formidable Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), a divorcee. Engaging in a crash program to
feel and think like a woman, Nick meets an accident which enables him to hear women's thoughts. Horrified at the onset, he gets delightedly "wicked" when reassured that "if
you know what women want, you can rule." He uses the "gift" to steal bright ideas from the unsuspecting Darcy who, mistaking intellectual theft for real talent, gets disarmed
in the process. The "gift" also reveals to him what women think of him – including his 15-year old daughter Alex (Ashley Johnson), Lola (Marisa Tomei), a coffee-shop counter
girl, and his other women associates.
Special mention can be made of the realistic period designs and set decoration. Nick's smooth
moves ala Fred Astaire to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "I Won't Dance" is a plus to Gibson's first attempt at romantic comedy. His charm, though, could have been given more
wittiness and even a bit of sophistication for greater depth. Nancy Meyer's direction cleverly reveals women's thoughts with fresh humor and honesty, without allowing men to
discredit women. Cinematography is good with some unconventional shots and effective close-ups. The visual effects of electric/lightning shocks achieve their purpose but are
not very convincing. "Thought/mind" dialogues are oftentimes indistinct and hard to follow because of the sound effects and music.
What Women Want could be a trial balloon with sociological intent. Perhaps Hollywood would want to see and hear women's reactions to the
film. "A penny for your thoughts?" Is the power buying changing hands from males to females? Just how smart are women? It would be unfortunate if this is Hollywood's way of
saying women's basic fantasy is: a man will change for the sake of the woman he loves.
The film tries to present the values of dedication, perseverance, honesty, listening, love,
parental concern and sensitivity to other's needs in an entertaining way. But because of the sexual content of dialogues and the amoral stance towards divorce and pre-marital
sex, CINEMA rates this film viewers 14 years old and above.
(Date Reviewed: February 2, 2001)
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