Can we achieve total success without being sociable? This film tells the story of Melvin, the protagonist, changing for the better through his relationships with people. It was produced in the late 1990s. However, it seems more relevant to today’s society than when it was released. With the rapid development of technology, the Internet has become the solution to many aspects of daily life, and following COVID-19, the ‘Age of Isolation’ has arrived. Nowadays, people are relying on the Internet for essentials such as food, hobbies, exercise, and sexual desire, reducing their dependence on others. When alone, you do not have to confront anyone, and you do not hurt others. Most problems are derived from human relationships, meaning the biggest wounds are made by people. Nevertheless, we need to meet people in reality, not virtual reality. It is a silly thing to say, but people cannot grow on their own. This is because they constantly interact, fight, and mature with others. As Good as It Gets talks about the positive influence of connections with people.

There is only one pleasure for Melvin, who is a famous love story writer but lives alone because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder and eccentric personality. It is at his job that he sees Carol, an employee who works at a restaurant. One day, his neighbor Simon, with whom he has a stormy relationship, is severely injured by a gunman, so Melvin takes care of Simon's dog, Verdell. Feeling a positive change in his character while spending time with the dog, he slowly becomes closer to the people around him and finds happiness.

At first, Melvin seriously dislikes the dog. Therefore, at the beginning of the movie, he sometimes behaves immorally by putting Verdell in a trash can to prevent his owner from finding him. However, as he is required to take care of Verdell, he learns the meaning of unconditional love. The point here is that Melvin was originally a person who wrote and sang about the beauty of love. Inside him was always a longing for relationships with others. But when he was with others, his words and actions belied what he thought when he was alone. Melvin displays racist, homophobic, and sexist behavior at the beginning of the movie. However, he opens up his closed mind through Verdell, gradually changing. Through such a change, he learns love through Carol and friendship through Simon and lives a new life.

There are more and more people like Melvin in modern society. Just as in movies where animals can help open closed minds, this film goes further, illustrating that positive change should extend to our relationships with others. The film shows through three less-than-perfect characters that they can fill each other's gaps because they are different from each other. In a modern society where isolation and success are often glamorized, why not reflect on the positive impact that communication can have on a person's life while watching this movie, which, despite some flaws, features characters who care for each other unconditionally? In the end, love saves people, and people save others.

“You make me wanna be a better man.” (Melvin's first love confession)