History YMMV / AsGoodAsItGets

* {{Anvilicious}}: Averted, for the most part. Despite absolutely crappy lives, mostly of their own doing, no one really gives anyone a 'Suck It Up' speech. The three main characters are [[DysfunctionJunction their own worst enemies]], effusive and self-destructive (and in Simon's post-hospital state, [[ThisLoserIsYou self-loathing]]).
* CatharsisFactor: However sympathetic you might be toward Melvin, his being ordered out of the diner after mocking a waitress' weight, with everyone applauding his departure, is definitely what he deserved.
* FairForItsDay: The film's treatment of Simon's homosexuality can seem somewhat corny and stereotypical today, but at the time of its release it was viewed as a very progressive, sympathetic and nuanced portrayal.
* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Simon at one point tells Melvin "I love you." Come 2015, the Supreme Court would legalize gay marriage nationwide, meaning Simon could potentially marry any potential life partner. Melvin's homophobia is clearly portrayed as a negative attitude that he sheds over the course of the movie.
* HilariousInHindsight: When Simon tells Carol he wants to draw her in the nude, she initially refuses, saying "I'm a lot more shy than people think. I give off the wrong impression." In 2012's ''Film/TheSessions'', Creator/HelenHunt plays a professional sexual surrogate who ''definitely'' doesn't have any problems being naked in front of strangers.

** ...then, after she rushes madly to her apartment to find that the doctor ''is'' there for her son, but nothing is particularly wrong with him at the moment, she is informed that the paediatrician has been sent to attend to her son by Melvin... a really creepy jerkass customer from work who has come dangerously close to being a stalker.

** While Melvin helping Carol with her son's medical care is a decent thing, his attitude toward her comes across as borderline stalking and obsession.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Simon at one point tells Melvin "I love you." Come 2015, the Supreme Court would legalize gay marriage nationwide, meaning Simon could potentially marry any potential life partner.

* ValuesDissonance: The age gap between Melvin and Carol tends to come under more scrutiny from viewers in the present day than it did when the movie came out. Worth noting is that Carol was originally meant to be ten years older than she ended up.

* FairForItsDay: The film’s treatment of Simon’s homosexuality is often considered to be somewhat corny and stereotypical today, but at the time of its release it was seen as an extremely progressive, sympathetic and nuanced portrayal.
* HilariousInHindsight: When Simon tells Carol he wants to draw her in the nude, she initially refuses, saying “I’m a lot more shy than people think. I give off the wrong impression.” In ''Film/TheSessions'', which came out fifteen years after this movie, Creator/HelenHunt plays a woman whose job literally requires her to be naked in the company of near-strangers.

* ValuesDissonance: The age gap between Melvin and Carol tends to come under more scrutiny from viewers in the present day than it did when the movie came out. Worth noting is that Carol was originally meant to be ten years older.

* NightmareFuel: Carol lives in a low-rent neighbourhood with her chronically ill son. She went home to see a Cadillac outside her apartment building... [[AdultFear with "MD" plates on it...]]

* ActorAllusion: Nicholson blowing up at someone interrupting [[Film/TheShining his work as a writer]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JamieKennedy, Creator/MayaRudolph, Creator/LisaEdelstein and Creator/WoodHarris.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JamieKennedy, Creator/MayaRudolph, Lisa Edelstein and Wood Harris.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Averted, for the most part. Despite absolutely crappy lives, mostly of their own doing, no one really gives anyone a 'Suck It Up' speech. The three main characters are [[DysfunctionJunction their own worst enemies]], effusive and self-destructive (and in Simon's post-hospital state, [[ThisLoserIsYou self-loathing]])

** ...then, after she rushes madly to her apartment to find that the doctor ''is'' there to her son, but nothing is particularly wrong with him at the moment, she is informed that the paediatrician has been sent to attend to her son by Melvin... a really creepy jerkass customer from work who has come dangerously close to being a stalker.

* TheWoobie: Simon - first brutally beaten and then forced to use the weelchair. See also his backstory in DarkAndTroubledPast in the main tab.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Jamie Kennedy, Creator/MayaRudolph, Lisa Edelstein and Wood Harris.

* TheWoobie: Simon - first brutally beaten and then forced to use the weelchair. See also his backstory in DarkAndTroubledPast in the main tab.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Really, pick anything, by anyone and everyone. Even the manager of Carol's restaurant tells Melvin to get out (or "man [[BadassBoast there's gonna be trouble]]." Other examples, most of which involved Melvin (hmmm):
** Simon taking a swing at Melvin once the insults reach the tipping point. Badass bonus points for this being the first time he gets out of his wheelchair after being badly injured.
** "Shut up, kids!"
** American audiences cheered at Carol's rage at the health insurance companies - "Fucking HMO bastard pieces of shit!" ("Actually, I think that's their technical name," is the doctor's sympathetic reply when she apologizes for her outburst.)
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: "Why can't I just have a normal boyfriend?!"
** "Everyone wants that, dear. It doesn't exist."
** "How do you write women so well?" "I think of a man. And I take away reason and accountability."
** Simon's dead-on Jack Nicholson impression.
** Melvin stealing Frank's ScaryBlackMan routine when dealing with a cop. While Frank is [[ImStandingRightHere less than twenty feet up the hallway,]] and [[ActuallyPrettyFunny grinning as he watches.]]
** Spencer gives the doctor who visits glowing praise. "[[LittlestCancerPatient I'm an expert on doctors!]]"
** "You are not still writing that thank you letter!" "I'm on the last page!"
** Melvin introducing Carol to Simon: "Carol the waitress, Simon the fag." Not to mention Carol and Simon both taking it in stride.
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming:
-->'''Simon:''' Thank you, Melvin. You overwhelm me. (beat) I love you.
-->'''Melvin:''' I tell ya, buddy, I'd be the luckiest man alive if that did it for me.
** Also, the scene in the main page's picture when Melvin picks up Verdell and everyone around him smiles as he showers affection on the dog. It's also a CrowningMomentOfFunny, because he's doing that out of happiness that he'd trained the dog to avoid stepping on cracks.
** Melvin's second compliment to Carol, which manages to blow away his his already amazing first one. ("You make me want to be a better man.")
-->'''Melvin:''' I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and how you are with Spencer... "Spence." And in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman ''alive.'' And the fact that I get it makes me feel good... about me. Is that something that's bad for you to be around?
** Despite having no romantic interest in Carol, Simon gives her an amazing compliment that jump-starts their friendship almost immediately: "You're why cavemen chiseled on walls."
** Melvin tries to cheer Simon up by claiming that the dog only likes him because he keeps bacon in his pocket. And then the dog runs to him, ignoring the bacon Simon is holding, ruining the effect.

* RetroactiveRecognition: JamieKennedy, Creator/MayaRudolph, Lisa Edelstein, Wood Harris

** Simon taking a swing at Melvin once the insults reach the tipping point. BadAss bonus points for this being the first time he gets out of his wheelchair after being badly injured.

* FridgeBrilliance: Look closely at any scene when Melvin starts acting like a jerk. It's usually when someone has interfered with his routines or compulsions.

** American audiences cheered at Carol's rage at the health insurance companies - "Fucking HMO bastard pieces of shit!"