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Melvin Udall is a racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic misanthrope
who works from home as a romance novelist in New York. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder
which, paired with his misanthropy, puts off the neighbors in his
apartment building in Manhattan as well as everyone with whom he comes
into contact.
Melvin eats breakfast at the same
table in the same restaurant everyday using disposable plastic utensils
he brings with him due to his pathological germophobia. He takes an
interest in his waitress, Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), the only server
at the restaurant who can tolerate his demanding behavior.
One day, Melvin's neighbor, a gay
artist named Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear), is assaulted in his own
apartment. Melvin is forced to take care of the artist's dog Verdell
while he is in the hospital. Although he at first begrudgingly accepts
to care for the dog, Melvin becomes emotionally attached to Verdell and
at the same time gains more attention from Carol, his waitress at the
restaurant. A change occurs in his character and he discreetly arranges
for a doctor to visit Carol's home and see her asthmatic son Spencer.
Wary of owing Melvin for this goodwill gesture, Carol takes the train
to his apartment in the middle of the night to tell him that she will
not sleep with him.
After returning from the hospital,
Simon needs Melvin's help in driving to Baltimore to ask his estranged
parents for money. Melvin invites Carol to accompany them on the trip
to lessen the awkwardness between the two men and so he can court Carol
romantically. She reluctantly accepts the invitation and relationships
between the three develop.
At dinner in Baltimore, Melvin
accidentally insults Carol and she refuses to see him again upon
returning to New York, though she later feels bad about it. The
relationship between Melvin and Carol remains complicated until Simon
convinces Melvin to declare his love for her at her apartment in
Brooklyn, where the two realize the depth of their personal connection.
Melvin admits that he wants to be a better person because of her. The
film ends with Melvin and Carol taking a walk at five in the morning
together to buy fresh rolls at the corner bakery.
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