Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt in director Alexander Payne’s dark comedy, About Schmidt. Based on the novel by Louis Begley, the film chronicles the later years of Schmidt’s colorful life as he reluctantly retires from a lifetime of devoted service as an actuary for a large insurance company. Feeling empty and lost without work to fill his time, Schmidt faces further grievances as he must cope with his daughter Jeannie’s upcoming marriage to a dimwitted waterbed salesman and the anguish brought on by the sudden death of his loving wife after 42 years of marriage.
Lonely and feeling helpless, Schmidt sets out to bring meaning to his recently uprooted life. Leaving his hometown in a motor home, originally purchased to transport him and his late wife around the country, Warren Schmidt hits the road with nothing to lose. Eventually trying to make it to Denver to aid in his daughter’s wedding preparations, Schmidt encounters many individuals and events along the way that shine light on his current situation.
Despite a serious and rather depressing undertone, About Schmidt has many very comedic moments which brilliantly illustrate Nicholson’s versatility as an actor. The film is fresh and unique and presents an intriguing character in Warren Schmidt who has had everything taken away and must completely reevaluate his entire life. Watching this film unfold on screen is truly mesmerizing.
