What Women Want: My Guilty Pleasure Film

We all have that guilty pleasure in our cinematic tastes, that one title we’d rather not admit to in front of discerning cinephile friends. For me, that guilty pleasure is What Women Want. Yes, the 2000 romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. And before anyone judges me, let me explain how a man raised on explosions, car chases, and epic one-liners from Lethal Weapon ended up captivated by a film about a guy who can hear what women think.

The first time I watched What Women Want, it was because I am (or was) a fan of Mel Gibson. How could I not be? He was the tough guy in Mad Max and the charismatic Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon. To me, Gibson represented action, sarcasm, and a dash of madness that made him irresistible. So when I saw he was starring in this film, my brain went, “Well, it can’t be that bad. It’s Mel Gibson.”

But there he was, the 90s icon, not jumping out of a burning car but waxing his legs, wearing pantyhose, and trying to navigate a world dominated by women. I admit I initially felt betrayed. Where was the man who could defuse a bomb with a paper clip? But then came the twist: Mel Gibson was funny. Not just a little funny, surprisingly good at playing an arrogant, egotistical man who, thanks to a ridiculous electrical accident, gains the ability to hear women’s thoughts.

If there’s one thing that makes What Women Want hard to resist, it’s its premise. Who hasn’t fantasized about being able to hear other people’s thoughts? The film not only plays with this concept but exploits it with humor, intelligence, and a bit of uncomfortable self-awareness.

Nick Marshall (Gibson) is the epitome of corporate machismo: a charming but deeply self-centered man, used to getting his way in a world designed for him. But when he starts hearing the thoughts of his female colleagues, he realizes how wrong he was about almost everything. Nick’s journey, from being a guy who thinks he has all the answers to someone who finally understands (or at least tries to understand) women, is hilarious and, let’s admit it, a little touching.

What Women Want works because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It doesn’t pretend to be a philosophical reflection on gender relations or a deep analysis of feminism. Instead, it has fun with its characters and situations, which is precisely what makes it so charming.

The thoughts Nick hears range from the profound (“What would my mother say about this decision?”) to the utterly ridiculous (“Should I change my shoes?”). That mix of the trivial and the significant perfectly reflects how the human mind works. Plus, watching Mel Gibson struggle with his newfound “power” (trying to be the sensitive guy he never was) is comedy in itself.

One of the reasons this movie works is Helen Hunt as Darcy McGuire, Nick’s new boss and the antithesis of his arrogant attitude. Hunt plays Darcy with a blend of strength and vulnerability that makes her an easy character to admire. As Nick grapples with understanding how she thinks, Darcy becomes the emotional anchor of the film, a reminder that it’s not always about winning or losing but about genuinely connecting with others.
The chemistry between Gibson and Hunt is undeniable, and while their relationship starts with the typical dynamic of competition, it evolves in a way that feels organic and, surprisingly, sincere.

Although I’m not the kind of person drawn to romantic comedies, there’s something fascinating about how this film explores the female mind. Sure, it does so with a touch of humor and plenty of simplifications, but it also addresses themes that resonate: insecurities, expectations, doubts, and the constant balancing act between professional and personal life.

The movie doesn’t try to provide definitive answers, but at least it invites us to listen, to pay attention to what people truly think and feel, even if we don’t have a “power” like Nick’s.

Why has What Women Want become my guilty pleasure? Because despite its clichés, it works. It’s funny, heartfelt, and unafraid to laugh at itself. Plus, it’s refreshing to see Mel Gibson, the eternal action hero, playing a guy who has to learn to be vulnerable and accept that he doesn’t have all the answers.

And yes, there’s something timeless about the movie. Maybe it’s the message that listening and understanding others is key to any relationship, or maybe it’s just how funny it is to watch Gibson waxing his legs.

What Women Want won’t change your life, but that doesn’t matter. It’s a movie that fulfills its purpose: to entertain you, make you laugh, and maybe make you think a little about how you communicate with others.
So, if you ever need a movie to cheer you up or simply enjoy a light, well-executed comedy, give it a shot. Because sometimes, the best cinema isn’t the most serious,it’s the kind that reminds you that laughing at yourself is an art too.