What Women Want
2000 · Directed by Nancy Meyers
Original language: English
- comedy
- romance
The story
Advertising executive Nick Marshall is as cocky as they come, but what happens to a chauvinistic guy when he can suddenly hear what women are thinking? Nick gets passed over for a promotion, but after an accident enables him to hear women's thoughts, he puts his newfound talent to work against Darcy, his new boss, who seems to be infatuated with him.
What it’s like
Warm, bright, and polished in the way of early-2000s studio comedy: Chicago-style Manhattan apartments and advertising offices rendered in soft window light, sun-washed pastels, and glossy interiors shot with long, unhurried takes that let the actors' reactions breathe. Nancy Meyers frames her leads in clean two-shots and medium close-ups, with the comic beats landing through expression and timing rather than chaos, and a bouncy pop-and-standards soundtrack keeps the mood buoyant. The vibe is light, sunny romance with a wry edge, the kind of thing to put on for a rainy Sunday, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening with a glass of wine. Its pacing is breezy and conversational, and the emotional arc follows a self-assured, often selfish man slowly learning to see the people around him, while the woman he initially underestimates becomes the center of his changing outlook. Violence is absent; sexual content is mild, with some innuendo and a few suggestive scenes but nothing explicit; mild profanity and brief peril, like a minor accident, are the heaviest moments. It suits people who want a gentle, funny romance with a warm finish and a bit of satire about office politics and male ego.
More films like What Women Want
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved What Women Wantand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
