Psychology

As Good As It Gets is a critically acclaimed 1997 film by James L. Brooks. The protagonist, Melvin Udall suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder  (OCD) that prevents him from functioning normally in his daily life. Some of Melvins unusual behavior include a unique way of locking his door, repetitive washing of hands in scalding hot water, eating lunch at the same table at the same restaurant everyday, walking awkwardly to avoid cracks on the street and contact with people, and wearing gloves when he goes out. He is almost a recluse and is usually described as cranky, intolerant, and unfriendly.

Melvin falls for Carol, the beautiful waitress in his favorite restaurant. Then one day his homosexual neighbor Simon is hospitalized. Melvin is forced to take care of Simons dog. At first Melvin finds it a nuisance but slowly he bonds with the dog. Things begin to change for Melvin. He develops a romantic relationship with Carol. He opens his home to Simon and his dog. When Simon needed to travel to his hometown, Melvin even takes the trip with him. They invite Carol to go as well. The three strike a strong relationship. In the midst of everything going one, Melvin slowly overcomes his OCD. In the final scene where Melvin and Carol going to a corner bakery to buy some bread, illustrates how Melvin learns to trust other people and open up to them. He is able to do things that in the beginning were very difficult for him.

The film is clear about OCD and what people who has it struggle with everyday. However, it is unfortunate that as strongly recognizable the OCD symptoms are in the film, they are confused with another psychological condition, Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (Phillipson, n.d.). Melvins behavior leans towards OCPD and not OCD. The two are very different. While OCD is always associated with perceived anxiety, OCPD is more a dysfunction of philosophy (Phillipson, n.d.). This is the fundamental confusion in the film.