Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is a difficult character. The compulsive successful writer locks his front door four times, is afraid of the unclean, hates Jews, blacks and homosexuals and makes no secret of it. He lives in Greenwich Village – and his neighbors naturally don’t like him either. Among them is the homosexual artist Simon (Greg Kinnear), whose dog Verdell Udall takes to the garbage chute because the pooch has peed in the stairwell. After being attacked and robbed by two gangsters, Simon has to go to hospital. His agent and dealer Frank (Cuba Gooding Jr.) forces Udall to look after Verdell – to make up for the fall into the garbage can, so to speak. Udall, who doesn’t like this at all, makes a virtue of necessity and does his best to look after the little barker. He soon takes a liking to his new master.
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Despite all the criticism and the supposed adherence to typical Hollywood structures, the film captivates with its charm, humor and humanity. Brooks does not stage a thoroughly optimistic feel-good movie, but rather sensitively explores the contradictions and rough edges of his characters. It is precisely the slow approach to interpersonal warmth that gives the film depth. The fact that there is no lack of typical filmic dramaturgy and a conciliatory finale may bother some critics – but this does not detract from the quality of the film. The movie is a comedy that is more than just entertaining. It works on several levels: as a character study, as a reflection of society and as an example of how sophisticated, touching films can be made in the midst of typical Hollywood structures – carried by an ensemble that plays with great dedication.
Englisch
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