About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

I didn't fully appreciate "About Schmidt" until I saw it the second time around. Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates are outstanding as dramatically different future in-laws.



Pros

• Jack Nicholson is near perfect as Warren Schmidt
• Kathy Bates' hot tub scene

Cons

• No audio commentary

Description

• 9 deleted scenes with written explanations from director Alexander Payne
• 'Woodmen Tower' sequences set to music

• Theatrical trailer

Guide Review - "About Schmidt" Movie - DVD Review

Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt, a newly retired insurance executive who finds life without the 9-5 routine is not what he expected. Shortly after retirement, life throws a wrench into his plans. Attempting to adapt to his changing situation, Schmidt decides to try and stop his daughter's wedding, fosters a child from Tanzania, and meets his match in future in-law, Kathy Bates.

The written explanations prior to each deleted scene are interesting, though I prefer to actually hear the director talk about his work and the reasons behind leaving select scenes on the cutting room floor. There's no audio commentary track with the feature film either, so if you buy this one, it's strictly because of the movie itself - not the DVD extras.