The Bottom Line
I got some big laughs out of this film, but it’s not so much a comedy as a bittersweet character study. Nicholson and Bates are great, and I like the movie’s wry look at contemporary American life.
Pros
- Great performance by Jack Nicholson
- Interesting depiction of American life
- Provides some very big laughs
Cons
- Too low-key for some
- Some find movie depressing
- Film may seem foreign to some young viewers
Description
- DVD containing movie “About Schmidt” (2002) starring Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates
- Film is a character study of a retired insurance executive who lives in Omaha, Nebraska
- DVD’s only bonus materials of any consequence are 9 deleted scenes
- Excellent picture quality
- Excellent sound quality
Guide Review - "About Schmidt" DVD Review
I got some very big laughs watching "About Schmidt," in which Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates give memorable performances. But I wouldn’t call the film a comedy—it's more of a bittersweet drama. In the movie, Omaha resident Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) retires after decades with the same organization. Shortly thereafter his wife dies, and he takes an RV trip by himself. He ends up in Denver for his daughter’s wedding, where he meets his strange future in-laws, including the free-spirited mother (Bates) of the groom. But I think the story is only a framework on which to hang a character study along with a rumination on happiness, duty, work, and family. I highly recommend this film for its wry look at contemporary American life.
