What Women Want (2000)
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After a freak accident, a chauvinistic advertising executive gains the ability to hear the inner thoughts of women.
The story
Nick Marshall, a chauvinist advertising executive in Chicago, is passed over for a promotion in favor of a rival. While his estranged teenage daughter stays with him, Nick suffers an accident involving an electric hairdryer and a bathtub. He awakens with the supernatural ability to hear women's thoughts. Initially repulsed by the reality of what women truly think of him, Nick is advised by his therapist to use this gift to his advantage. He must navigate his professional life, his complicated relationship with his daughter, and his growing interest in his colleague, Darcy Maguire, while trying to understand what women truly want.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Nick Marshall, a chauvinistic Chicago advertising executive, is shocked when his boss hires a rival, Darcy Maguire, to appeal to female customers. After a freak accident involving an electric hairdryer, Nick gains the ability to hear women's thoughts. While he initially finds the truth about his reputation unpleasant, he begins to use the gift to navigate his career and his relationship with his estranged daughter, Alex. He discovers Darcy's true feelings and begins a romance with her, though he eventually feels guilty for stealing one of her ideas. He also works to repair his bond with Alex, eventually warning her about her boyfriend's true intentions. During a storm, Nick loses his telepathic ability while trying to help a coworker, Erin. He eventually reconciles with Darcy, who forgives him for his actions regarding her stolen idea, and the two share a kiss.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 126
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nancy Meyers
- Writers
- Josh Goldsmith · screenplay; Cathy Yuspa · screenplay; Diane Drake · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mel Gibson · Nick Marshall; Helen Hunt · Darcy Maguire; Marisa Tomei · Lola; Mark Feuerstein · Morgan Farwell; Lauren Holly · Gigi; Ashley Johnson · Alex Marshall; Judy Greer · Erin; Alan Alda · Dan Wanamaker
- Genres
- romantic fantasy comedy; romantic comedy; fantasy comedy
- Themes
- communication; father-daughter relationships; gender dynamics
- Tone and mood
- comedy; romance
- Premise and plot tags
- telepathy; advertising; magical realism
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box-office success, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2000.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 53% · review count: 122; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · nomination; Blockbuster Entertainment Award · Favorite Actor—Comedy/Romance · nomination; Blockbuster Entertainment Award · Favorite Actress—Comedy/Romance · win; Satellite Award · Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · nomination; ASCAP Award · Top Box Office Films · win; Saturn Award · Best Fantasy Film · nomination; Bogey Award · Platin · win; Casting Society of America · Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2000.; It had the highest December opening weekend of all time in 2000.; A remake titled What Men Want was released in 2019.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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