Worth watching for Jack Nicholson's performance alone. Understated, intelligent, witty and emotional, Jack Nicholson acts a part I never thought I would see him play. A small town actuary with "Woodman of the Word", Schmidt retires, with his wife desperate to spend time with him at long last. The feeling is not mutual. "Who is this old woman who lives in my house" he says, as he, equally old lies next to her.
Schmidt has regrets in his life. He wants to spend more time with his daughter, but she not him, not after all these years when Schmidt didn't. Schmidt's daughter is also marrying someone that Schmidt thinks is unsuitable and a road trip with some great characters ensues, including a very funny performance by Kathy Bates.
It is a small town American drama, and a mild one at that, but one that is brought to life by Nicholson. There aren't many films about old people and that is because it is difficult to film their life with any interest or adventure. That they have achieved a good story here, and with the top notch acting, it great and is up there with other stories achieving the same, such as Dean Spanley or The Straight Story.
Schmidt has regrets in his life. He wants to spend more time with his daughter, but she not him, not after all these years when Schmidt didn't. Schmidt's daughter is also marrying someone that Schmidt thinks is unsuitable and a road trip with some great characters ensues, including a very funny performance by Kathy Bates.
It is a small town American drama, and a mild one at that, but one that is brought to life by Nicholson. There aren't many films about old people and that is because it is difficult to film their life with any interest or adventure. That they have achieved a good story here, and with the top notch acting, it great and is up there with other stories achieving the same, such as Dean Spanley or The Straight Story.