Director, writer, and producer Nancy Meyers's (THE PARENT TRAP)
sophomore directorial effort is a lively screwball fantasy featuring Mel
Gibson in his first romantic comedy. Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a
high-flying chauvinistic Chicago advertising executive who, like his
musical idol, Frank Sinatra, calls women "baby" and believes he has the
world on a string. Nick experiences a rude awakening when the creative
director position he coveted goes to Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), a savvy
outsider--and a woman--who intends to aggressively pursue the lucrative
women's market. While trying to brainstorm ideas for "feminine"
products, Nick experiences a freak accident that gives him the ability
to hear women's thoughts. Determined to win back his stolen job, Nick
uses his terrifying yet useful new talent to scrutinize Darcy and finds
his smart, beautiful rival may not be the "bitch on wheels" he imagined.
Meanwhile, he also must maneuver carefully within complex relationships
with his estranged teenage daughter, Alex (Ashley Johnson), and a
pretty coffee shop waitress, Lola (Marisa Tomei). Once Nick begins to
listen to the new voices he hears, his previous worldview is challenged,
and he finds that he finally might understand what women want.