Honestly, if you turn on the TV on a lazy Sunday afternoon, there is a statistically high probability you’ll run into Mel Gibson looking bewildered while wearing pantyhose. It’s been over two decades since the What Women Want film hit theaters in December 2000, and somehow, we are still talking about it. Why? Because the premise is the ultimate "what if" scenario that every person on earth has considered at least once while staring blankly at a partner or a crush.
The movie isn't just a relic of the early 2000s rom-com boom. It’s a fascinating, sometimes cringey, and surprisingly deep look at gender dynamics that were considered "progressive" back then but feel like a time capsule now. Nancy Meyers, the queen of high-end kitchens and emotional resonance, directed this juggernaut, and it remains one of the highest-grossing films ever directed by a woman. It made over $374 million globally. That isn't just "good for a rom-com" money; that is blockbuster territory.
The Shocking Physics of Nick Marshall
Nick Marshall is a total dinosaur. When we first meet him, he’s a chauvinistic advertising executive who thinks he’s God’s gift to Chicago. He expects a big promotion, but instead, his boss Dan (played by Alan Alda) hires Darcy Maguire from a rival agency. Darcy is played by Helen Hunt, who was coming off a massive hot streak with As Good as It Gets.
The inciting incident is famously ridiculous. Nick gets tasked with testing out feminine products—velvet lipstick, Wonderbras, pore strips—to understand the female demographic Darcy is targeting. He slips in his bathroom while holding a hair dryer, falls into a bathtub full of water, and gets blasted by a massive electrical surge.
Physics aside, he wakes up the next morning with the ability to hear what women are thinking.
It starts as a nightmare. He hears his maid’s resentment, his daughter’s lack of respect for him, and the general disdain most women on the street feel when he flashes his "charming" smile. But then, the lightbulb goes off. He realizes he can use this "curse" to steal Darcy’s ideas and win back his status at the firm.
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Why the What Women Want Film Works (And Where It Struggles)
One thing most people forget is that the What Women Want film is actually quite long for a romantic comedy, clocking in at over two hours. Meyers uses that time to explore the loneliness of the characters. While the "mind reading" is the hook, the heart of the movie is about listening.
The Darcy Maguire Factor
Helen Hunt’s performance is often overshadowed by Gibson’s manic energy, but she’s the anchor. Darcy is brilliant, vulnerable, and exhausted by the boys' club of the advertising world. When Nick starts "predicting" her thoughts, she doesn't think he's psychic; she thinks he's finally the first man to actually see her as an equal. It’s a bit heartbreaking when you realize their entire initial connection is built on his psychic insider trading.
The B-Plot Nobody Talks About
There is a subplot involving a quiet office worker named Erin (played by Judy Greer) that gives the movie its only real stakes. Nick hears her suicidal thoughts—thoughts that everyone else in the office is too busy to notice. This is where the movie shifts from a goofy comedy to something with actual weight. Nick uses his gift to save a life, which is the turning point for his character arc. It’s a sharp contrast to the scene where he’s trying to figure out how to put on mascara.
The Cultural Impact of 2000s Marketing
Marketing is the backdrop of the whole story. The "No Games" Nike campaign featured in the film was a real-world style pitch that resonated with audiences at the time. It highlighted a shift in how brands talked to women—moving away from "be pretty for men" to "be strong for yourself."
However, looking back, the movie’s idea of "what women want" is pretty narrow. The thoughts Nick hears are mostly about body image, romance, or men. In 2026, we’d probably expect a broader range of internal monologues—thoughts about careers, existential dread, or just what’s for dinner. But for the year 2000, the film was trying to say that women are complex human beings with internal lives as rich as men’s. It’s a low bar, but the movie clears it with a lot of charm.
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The Mel Gibson Paradox
It’s impossible to talk about the What Women Want film without addressing the elephant in the room: Mel Gibson. At the time, he was the biggest movie star on the planet. He had the "Braveheart" gravitas mixed with "Lethal Weapon" comedic timing.
Watching it now is a bit surreal given his subsequent public controversies. Yet, critics like Roger Ebert noted at the time that Gibson’s physical comedy was top-tier. He’s willing to look like a complete idiot. That willingness to be the butt of the joke is what keeps the movie from feeling too mean-spirited. You want to see this guy get knocked down a peg.
Essential Facts You Might Have Missed
- The Budget: It cost about $70 million to make, which was huge for a comedy back then.
- The Soundtrack: It’s a love letter to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, giving the movie a timeless, "old Hollywood" vibe despite its modern setting.
- The Remake: In 2019, we got What Men Want starring Taraji P. Henson. It flipped the script, with a female sports agent hearing the thoughts of men. It was a fun riff, but it didn't quite capture the same "event cinema" feeling of the original.
- The Cameos: Look out for a young Biff Wiff or the legendary Logan Lerman in his film debut as Nick's son (in flashbacks).
Modern Critiques and Nuance
If you ask a film student today about the What Women Want film, they might point out the ethical quagmire of the romance. Nick essentially gaslights Darcy for the first two-thirds of the movie. He hears her private ideas, presents them as his own, and uses her secret desires to woo her.
In a modern context, that’s not a "meet-cute"—it’s a privacy violation.
However, the film acknowledges this. When Nick eventually loses his powers during another lightning storm (because that’s how movie logic works), he has to come clean. The fallout is real. He loses the job, he loses the girl, and he has to earn it all back the hard way—by actually talking and, more importantly, listening.
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The Legacy of the "Meyers Aesthetic"
Nancy Meyers basically invented a genre of "asspirational interiors." The apartments in this movie are stunning. The offices are sleek. Everything looks like it smells like expensive candles and fresh linens. This aesthetic helped the movie appeal to a wide demographic. It wasn't just a "chick flick"; it was a lifestyle fantasy.
Even though the technology (bulky monitors, flip phones) has aged, the emotional core hasn't. Everyone wants to be understood. Everyone wants to feel like the person they are dating "gets" them without them having to explain everything. The movie taps into that universal desire for radical empathy.
Practical Takeaways from the Film’s Themes
While you probably won’t get struck by lightning in your bathtub today, there are some weirdly practical lessons to be culled from this 24-year-old movie:
- Active Listening is a Superpower: You don't need to be psychic. Most people tell you exactly what they want and need if you just stop talking long enough to hear them. Nick's "gift" was just a shortcut to a skill anyone can develop.
- Diverse Perspectives Drive Success: The business plot of the movie proves that a room full of the same types of people (in this case, "manly" men) will always have a blind spot. Bringing Darcy in wasn't just "woke" for the year 2000; it was a smart business move because she understood a market they couldn't see.
- Vulnerability is Key: Nick only becomes a likable person when he stops trying to be the "alpha" and starts admitting he’s overwhelmed.
- Watch the Sinatra: Seriously, the soundtrack is a great primer on classic crooners if you're looking to upgrade your dinner party playlist.
The What Women Want film isn't a perfect masterpiece, and it’s certainly a product of its time. But it remains a fascinating study of how Hollywood tried to bridge the gender gap at the turn of the millennium. It’s funny, it’s glossy, and it’s a little bit problematic—basically, it’s a quintessential Nancy Meyers production.
If you're looking to revisit it, it’s frequently streaming on platforms like Paramount+ or available for digital rental. Just maybe keep the hair dryer away from the bathtub while you watch.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Fan
To truly appreciate the evolution of this trope, watch the 2000 original and then immediately follow it up with the 2019 Taraji P. Henson version. You will see a massive shift in how "power" is portrayed in the workplace. Also, check out Nancy Meyers' later work like The Holiday or It's Complicated to see how she refined the art of the high-end emotional comedy. If you're interested in the advertising aspect, researching the real Nike "No Games" commercials from that era provides a cool look at the reality behind the fiction.