This film focuses on a man in his 60's who upon his retirement realises how empty and meaningless his life has become. His wife irritates him, he never sees his daughter and his company have replaced him with a 20 something whizz kid. He sees an advert on the Television and decides to sponsor a young African boy called Ndugu. As well as sending cheques to the boy he also sends him letters telling him all about his life and his failed hopes and dreams.
Jack Nicholson reminds us in this film of why he has been one of the top actors in Hollywood for so many years.His portrayal of Warren Schmidt, a man facing his own mortality, is extremely realistic and we can all relate to his fear that he has failed to achieve anything in life. Kathy Bates is a great comedic actress and her portrayal of Roberta Hertzel, the mother of Schmidt's future son in law, lightens the mood in some of the films darker moments.Good supporting cast in Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney as Schmidt's daughter and future son in law.
The ending is a little anti-climatic but very poignant as Schmidt realises that maybe he has made a difference to at least one persons life. This is a funny film but it is much deeper than the average romantic comedy that comes out of Hollywood these days. This will make you laugh but it should also strike a more serious chord with most people who will at some point in their lives be able to relate to Schmidt's worries that he has not achieved anything or made any difference to the world.
Jack Nicholson reminds us in this film of why he has been one of the top actors in Hollywood for so many years.His portrayal of Warren Schmidt, a man facing his own mortality, is extremely realistic and we can all relate to his fear that he has failed to achieve anything in life. Kathy Bates is a great comedic actress and her portrayal of Roberta Hertzel, the mother of Schmidt's future son in law, lightens the mood in some of the films darker moments.Good supporting cast in Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney as Schmidt's daughter and future son in law.
The ending is a little anti-climatic but very poignant as Schmidt realises that maybe he has made a difference to at least one persons life. This is a funny film but it is much deeper than the average romantic comedy that comes out of Hollywood these days. This will make you laugh but it should also strike a more serious chord with most people who will at some point in their lives be able to relate to Schmidt's worries that he has not achieved anything or made any difference to the world.