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| DIRECTED BY |
| Alexander Payne |
| STARRING |
| Jack Nicholson |
| Hope Davis |
| Dermot Mulroney |
| Kathy Bates |
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If 'About Schmidt' is a comedy, then it�s one of the most depressing comedies that I�ve ever seen. The power of the film lies within the authenticity of it; director Alexander Payne shows us exactly how meaningless of an existence that people can eventually discover themselves leading. Discovery is the case with Nicholson�s character, Warren Schmidt, in that he realizes his dissatisfaction but never really does come to terms with it (or try to, at least) until a tragedy occurs.
The film was billed as a comedy, but the only way that 'About Schmidt' could be rightfully classified under any sort of comedic genre would be that of tragicomedy; and even then, the pity outweighs the laughter. Many seem to dislike the film for its refusal to distinguish itself as either a serious evaluation of the �mid-life crisis� or simply a jocular exaggeration of it, but it�s the film�s skillful combination of both of these themes that make it so praiseworthy.
Perhaps this combination also disallows the film from being wholly effective on one particular side, but that doesn�t keep it from making a number of poignant statements. The emotional revelation of the final scene allows us to believe that Schmidt may have finally realized the importance of simply existing in this world; then we also come to realize that he may have been one of the weak ones who died along the way, but at least he wasn�t a coward who never started.
