Melvin Udall is a sarcastic writer who lives alone in an apartment, eats at the same restaurant each day, is afraid of germs, and generally hates people. His neighbor, Simon, is a gay artist whose dog is constantly becoming entangled in Melvin's life annoying Melvin and giving rise to much anti-homosexual sentiment on his part.

Carol is a waitress at Melvin's usual eating spot who is trying to take care of an asthmatic son and has to suffer Melvins obnoxious behavior. However, the door to Melvin's self-awakening is opened by Simon's dog who Melvin has to watch after Simon is brutally mugged. He comes to love the dog and respect Simon, and to see that Carol's son receives much-needed medical care.

Directed by
James L. Brooks

Cast
Jack Nicholson - Melvin Udall
Helen Hunt - Carol Connelly
Greg Kinnear - Simon Bishop
Cuba Gooding Jr - Frank Sachs
Skeet Ulrich - Vincent
Shirley Knight - Beverly
Yeardley Smith - Jackie
Lupe Ontiveros - Nora

Production Co.
Gracie Films

Produced by
Richard Sakai
Laurence Mark
Laura Ziskin

Studio
TriStar Pictures

Writer
Mark Andrus

Music
Hans Zimmer