Strong personality roles are synonymous with Jack Nicholson, whose legendary acting career spans roles in which one classic outburst or downward twitch of his eyebrows is enough to melt a viewer's box of Goobers. The guy can just act: plain and simple. His aura contains something special that is a dying breed in Hollywood today. A breeze of domination, and intensity mixes with a chilling persona, that screams, "Don't mess with Jack."
In a turn of roles, "About Schmidt" reveals a humanist acting side of Nicholson we seldom do see. Nicholson plays the starring role of Warren Schmidt; a recently retired insurance executive, who hits a midlife crisis at age sixty-seven. Unfortunately, he learns through the expected loss of his wife, that his own life maybe hasn't served a fulfilling purpose, after dedicating thirty-five plus years to a corporate institution that never provided him the wings to find his spirit.
Faced with retirement and an empty large home, Schmidt sets out on a soul-searching journey to find the part of himself he's never known, and to confront and stop the upcoming marriage of his daughter to a waterbed salesman, who he considers a "nincompoop." The movie does an interesting job of monitoring Schmidt's development through an ongoing series of letters he writes to a six year old African boy he sponsors, Ngudu. From the beginning letter to Ngudu, in which he introduces himself as a bitter but sincere old man, to his last letters, he eventually writes as a more open and questioning human.
The journey Schmidt takes in his thirty five foot - RV, is enjoyable and fun to watch, as the viewer can find themselves rooting for Schmidt to discover some fun, excitement, and enjoyment after the dramatic loss of his wife. From visiting his boyhood home that has now become a tire store, to a friendly turned ugly rendezvou with an inviting couple at an RV park, Schmidt gets to let loose, and explore life beyond the cubicle. Schmidt eventually begins to find the inner spirit that he never before had the chance to realize was missing.
It's a meeting of two worlds as Schmidt meets his future in laws who live a bit liberally compared to Schmidt's conservative background. It's Norman Rockwell meets Picasso in this clashing of two worlds. Kathy Bates plays the mother of his future son in law : as a counter culture new age bohemian. She does a fantastic job of identifying with the mother figure to her stoner but good-hearted son, who will soon be marrying Schmidt's daughter. Howard Hesseman from "WKRP in Cincinnati" fame has a breakthrough supporting role as the hip father in law. Although it eats Schmidt up from the bottom of his heart, that this guy who is about to marry his daughter isn't classy enough for his liking, a funny turn of events allows Schmidt to survive an event he tries so hard to prevent. The film turns from a dramatic and revealing portrait of Schmidt's insecurities to a more comedic feature, with the introduction of the offbeat family. This leads to some good chuckles, and brings full circle the revolving themes of finding true love; one of the few things Schmidt realizes he never really experienced.
In the end, this film teaches you quite a few lessons in life. It's an important film to see, if you feel trapped in your curtain place in life. It tenderly but revealingly shows what happens if you don't take chances and take a proactive approach to your life in order to avoid asking, "What if?" Best of all we get to witness another masterful performance from Jack Nicholson, play dare I say, a" loser," as an insecure man looking to become the master of his own fate.
