Movie Test

Part 1:

Throughout the film “As Good as It Gets,” the main characters Melvin, Carol, and Simon gradually develop relationships that promote cooperation. Towards the beginning of the movie, Melvin and Carol do not always get along, nor do Melvin and Simon. However, as the movie progresses the characters learn that they are happier and their lives are better when they are more compassionate and altruistic towards each other. For example, Melvin and Carol develop a deeper relationship when Melvin pays for a doctor for Carol’s son and gives her the kindest compliments. Also, Melvin and Simon are able to get along after Melvin brings Simon to Maryland to visit his parents, and even let’s Simon stay in his apartment. The characters prove that by cooperating and helping each other, their lives turn out better. They come to see the humanity in each other by realizing that each of them needs support, such as Melvin with his OCD, Carol with her sick son, and Simon with his parents and loss of his apartment. The characters realize that the best way to help each other is through compassion. By performing altruistic acts they come together to support each other in usual situations. By coming along with Melvin and Simon on the trip to Maryland, Carol listens to Simon’s childhood story and gives him more courage to face his parents. Also, they are able to come together after Melvin allows Simon to stay in his apartment when Simon has nowhere else to stay. The three diverse characters develop closer relationships towards the end of the film because of human compassion, cooperation, and altruism.

Part 2:

In the film, reciprocal altruism is illustrated when Melvin pays for the doctor to take care of Carol’s son because he wants Carol to return to work. This scene demonstrates reciprocal altruism because Melvin pays for the doctor, and expects in return that Carol will come back to work. He wants her to do so because he loves her and she is the only waitress that will put up with him. In the end, Carol does return to work. Reciprocal altruism is also demonstrated in the scene in which Carol gives Melvin a compliment when they are out to dinner, and expects a compliment back. In return, Melvin explains that although he is opposed to it, he has started to take his pills for OCD. He says to her, “you make me want to be a better man.” After receiving the kind compliment from Carol, Melvin reciprocates this kindness by giving her a compliment. The film also demonstrates the theory of kin selection in the scene when during her date, Carol goes to help her son Spencer with his asthma although she already knows that her mom is taking care of him. Despite the fact that she has to interrupt her date, she leaves to go help her son because it is her natural instinct to make sure he is all right, which illustrates kin selection. In addition to this scene, the scene in which Carol’s mother wants to take her out shows kin selection because her mother wants to make her daughter happy. Lastly, the film exemplifies the empathy-altruism hypothesis in the scene where Melvin allows Simon to stay in his apartment, because he has nowhere else to stay. Melvin becomes so empathetic that he loses sense of his own needs, such as not having anyone else in his apartment, especially Simon.