Director, writer, and producer Nancy Meyers's (THE PARENT TRAP) sophomore directorial effort is a lively screwball fantasy featuring Mel Gibson in his first romantic comedy. Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a high-flying chauvinistic Chicago advertising executive who, like his musical idol, Frank Sinatra, calls women "baby" and believes he has the world on a string. Nick experiences a rude awakening when the creative director position he coveted goes to Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), a savvy outsider--and a woman--who intends to aggressively pursue the lucrative women's market. While trying to brainstorm ideas for "feminine" products, Nick experiences a freak accident that gives him the ability to hear women's thoughts. Determined to win back his stolen job, Nick uses his terrifying yet useful new talent to scrutinize Darcy and finds his smart, beautiful rival may not be the "bitch on wheels" he imagined. Meanwhile, he also must maneuver carefully within complex relationships with his estranged teenage daughter, Alex (Ashley Johnson), and a pretty coffee shop waitress, Lola (Marisa Tomei). Once Nick begins to listen to the new voices he hears, his previous worldview is challenged, and he finds that he finally might understand what women want.
Theatrical release: December 15, 2000.
Director Nancy Meyers has cowritten many well-known screenplays with her husband, writer-director Charles Shyer, including PRIVATE BENJAMIN, IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES, and FATHER OF THE BRIDE.
Mel Gibson (Nick Marshall) is also an accomplished director--his film BRAVEHEART won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Helen Hunt (Darcy Maguire) won a Best Actress Oscar for her role in AS GOOD AS IT GETS and five Best Actress Emmy awards for playing Jamie Buchman on the popular sitcom MAD ABOUT YOU.
Alan Alda (Dan Wanamaker) won five Emmy awards for portraying Hawkeye Pierce on the beloved television series M*A*S*H, which ran for 11 years. Alda was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994.
Screenwriters Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa are both writers and producers for the popular television sitcom THE KING OF QUEENS.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 2.0 - French
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Nancy Meyers - Director
2. Jon Huttman - Production Designer
Featurette - 1. BEHIND THE SCENES ON WHAT WOMEN WANT
Production Interviews - 1. Cast and Crew
Trailers - 1. Two Original Theatrical Trailers
Stars
Mel Gibson: Australian-Raised Actor-Director
Helen Hunt: American Actress
Marisa Tomei: Oscar Winning American Actress, MY COUSIN VINNY
Alan Alda: American Actor/Director
Ashley Johnson: American Film and TV Actress, GROWING PAINS,
Mark Feuerstein: WOMAN ON TOP
Lauren Holly: Film/TV Actress
Delta Burke: American TV Actress, DESIGNING WOMEN
Valerie Perrine: Actress, LENNY, SUPERMAN (1978)
Judy Greer:
Sarah Paulson: American Actress/ LEVITATION
Ana Gasteyer: Saturday Night Live alumna
Lisa Edelstein: 30 DAYS
Loretta Devine: Actress
Diana-Maria Riva: star
Eric Balfour: star
Director
Nancy Meyers: American Writer/Director/Producer, WHAT WOMEN WANT (2000)
Producer
Nancy Meyers: American Writer/Director/Producer, WHAT WOMEN WANT (2000)
Bruce Davey: Producer/"Forever Young"
Matt Williams: Director
Susan Cartsonis: Producer
Gina Matthews: Producer
Associate Producer
Bruce A. Block: co-producer
Screenwriter
Josh Goldsmith: producer
Cathy Yuspa: producer
Composer
Alan Silvestri: Composer, VAN HELSING (2004)
Editor
Stephen A. Rotter: Editor
Thomas J. Nordberg: Editor, RAY (2004)
Art Director
Tony Fanning: SET DESIGNER
Director of Photography
Dean Cundey: American Director Of Photography
Executive Producer
Carmen Finestra: executive producer
Executive Producer
David McFadzean: Producer
Executive Producer
Stephen McEveety:
Production Designer
Jon Hutman: Production Designer, FRENCH KISS (1995)
Voice
Andrea Taylor: voice
Costume Designer
Ellen Mirojnick: Costume Designer, THE SENTINEL (2006)
Review 1:
"...Gibson [is] always a lethal weapon, even without a gun in his pocket." -- 3 out of 4 stars
Source: USA Today
p.6E 12/15/2000
Review 2:
"...Fizzy screwball comedy....[Gibson gives] a disarmingly nimble, fast-break performance..." -- Rating: B
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.59 01/12/2001
Review 3:
"...Gibson plays the facets of his ever-transmogrifying persona with flair at every turn: Even his hedonistic incarnation is able to sweep the audience..."
Source: Box Office
p.67 02/01/2001
Review 4:
"...A touch of magic realism and a dash of slapstick....There are plenty of laughs along the way..."
Source: Total Film
p.88-9 03/01/2001
Review 5:
"...Often very funny....The look and feel of the movie is just right..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.33 12/15/2000