The definition of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an Anxiety Disorder that is characterized by

intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety and compulsive behavior used to lower anxiety. As with all

disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is most easily recognized when the behaviors and thoughts

interfere with a person’s life, such as being unable to leave the house without shutting all the lights on

and off or having an anxiety attack brought on by being on an odd numbered subway train. In As Good

As It Gets, the story focuses on Nicholson’s character of Melvin Udall, writer with Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder marked by extreme fear/disgust of germs (and anything that may have germs, like all other

people) and doing things in a very particular way, like when he is shown walking down the sidewalk and,

in addition to going through extreme measures to avoid contact with people, he is seen walking with his

foot bent for a period of time, then switches back in forth in an unnecessary repeated manner. He also

seems to have a fixation on doing things in fives, such as turning on each of the lights exactly five times

or locking the door exactly five times for each lock, and although we only see him wash his hands for a

little while, I posit that he uses each brand new piece of soap a certain number of times as well. In

addition, while washing his hands, not only does he throw away what I suspect are perfectly good gloves

because a dog touched them, but he also proceed to run the water at steaming hot, during which time

he expresses pain at the temperature. From what I have read this is a classic sign of Obsessive

Compulsive Disorder.

I would say that his compulsions do get in the way of his social life, as in the very beginning of

the film Melvin is seen throwing a dog down a garbage shoot, which I am relatively sure is a very

unsocial thing to do to a neighbor’s dog, or really any dog for that matter. However, the reason that he

is so irrationally angry at the dog is because the dog urinates in Melvin’s lobby, aggravating Melvin’s

need to be clean and be around clean; if Melvin did not have an irrational fear of germs and an

overriding need for cleanliness I doubt that he would have thrown a small dog down a garbage shoot.

Furthermore, when Melvin is interrupted by his neighbor who’s dog he threw away, he becomes, what I
would say, disproportionately angry at Simon (who was coming to confront Melvin about the whole dog-

garbage thing), berating and belittling him while calling him derogatory names all for a single, justified

interruption. In this example I would say that perhaps Melvin’s writing is a form of compulsion, a way to

get through the thoughts in his head causing anxiety in the same way that washing his hands in superhot

water reduces his anxiety in the same way. Therefore, the reason that Melvin became so irate at Simon

is because he interrupted a compulsion of Melvin’s, raising Melvin’s anxiety level and making him angry

at whatever (or whoever) stopped his ritual.

I would say that the most prominent obsession that Melvin portrays is a fixation on germs and

chaos that at times overwhelms him. It can be seen in his compulsion for order, such as in his

apartment, “of which no one has ever been into”, he says, and his extreme disdain for the dog which I

would say stems from his hatred of messiness and need for organization which helps lessen his anxiety.

Furthermore, I would definitely classify his need for the same table and the same food in the same

diner, probably at the same time each day as a compulsion related to his need for structure and

sameness. His rigidity in everything he does, from washing his hands to ordering his food is most likely a

way for him to reduce his anxiety, or at least prevent any extra anxiety brought on by change. I think

that we all can relate to Melvin’s need of the familiar, or at least I know that I can. Who doesn’t have a

favorite booth, or likes to do things in a certain way or order? We know what foods we like, and most

likely ask for them or buy them when we can in some variation. However, this is where the normal

populace differs from Melvin; we can try different things, change our patterns, without experiencing

intense anxiety or fear. While a person may like a specific booth at a restaurant, he or she would be fine

with sitting elsewhere; Melvin needs to eat at the same booth every time

Something I saw in the movie that I think was fascinating was the effect that the dog had on

Melvin’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. At first, when given the dog, Melvin was visibly frustrated and
clearly did not want to put up with the dog (but did so anyway). After a short interlude, we see Melvin is

eating at his usual booth in his usual restaurant. However, there is a noticeable difference in Melvin’s

attitude, where he seems more cheerful (only a bit), and seems focused on the dog, immediately

worrying when the waitress mentions the thought of someone stealing him. To counteract this, he

immediately moves to another booth that is both closer and offers a better vantage point. While this

may seem like common sense to most people, for Melvin it is a large leap in overcoming his Obsessive

Compulsive Disorder. Best of all, he doesn’t even seem to realize that he deviated from his routine.

I bring this up because I am amazed with the effect that animals and pets have on people who

suffer from physical and mental illnesses. I have read papers on how therapeutic spending time with

dogs or cats is on patients and how big of an impact such a small thing can have on the patient’s health.

Now, it may just be movie magic in this case, but with the amount of evidence supporting the theory

that pets help patients, I think it is interesting that the first step taken by Melvin to overcome his

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is brought about by a dog, without him even realizing it.

Later in the film, after Melvin agrees to take care of the dog for a while, he seeks out a therapist

or psychologist that he had seen years ago and asks for help (rather loudly). The therapist/psychologist

tells him that he would be willing to help, but not at that exact moment as Melvin wanted. I think that

this is a major step for Melvin, because not only is he recognizing that he has a problem, but that he

wants to make the effort to fix it as well. As shown earlier in the film, Melvin seems to be aware that he

is different, and probably even knows that he has a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. However,

he does not seem to want to change, which of course makes sense as he does not like change in his life

and does not take it very well when it is forced upon him. This step towards getting help for himself, and

acknowledging other people’s problems is a huge stride in treating Melvin’s Obsessive Compulsive
disorder; later in the film, he is shown touching the dog with his bare hands while trying to help his

neighbor Simon out, something he would have done anything to avoid in the beginning of the film.

On one last note, I think it bears mentioning that although Melvin has Obsessive Compulsive

disorder, he shows signs for several other diagnosis as well; signs of disorders, that although he does not

(probably) have, it makes it slightly more difficult to spot where his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ends

and his general misanthropy begins. I found it hard to distinguish, and maybe it is nigh impossible to

distinguish, between his Obsessions/Compulsions and his aversion/enmity for people. For instance, it

could be explained that he does not like people for fear of them giving him germs or intruding upon his

daily rituals, but the fervor with which he deals with people, like the derogatory remarks or the casual

mention of someone’s loved one dying, goes a little bit beyond mere Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Overall, I know it was a movie but it was a fascinating case to analyze, especially since I love Jack

Nicholson and Greg Kinnear and it was fun to watch.