About Schmidt (2002)

About Schmidt (2002) is a quietly powerful comedy‑drama centered on Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), a recently retired insurance man whose safe, predictable life in Omaha is unexpectedly upended. After his wife’s sudden death and his forced confrontation with a decade‑long drift from his grown daughter, Schmidt sets off in the motorhome his wife once insisted on buying to drive to Denver and attend — and, he hopes, derail — his daughter’s impending marriage. What begins as a petty, stubborn mission becomes an episodic road trip of awkward encounters, small humiliations, and surprising revelations that force him to reexamine who he is, what he’s valued, and how he connects to others. As a viewer you’ll experience a blend of dry, often dark humor and quiet melancholy: comedic beats arise from Schmidt’s bluntness and social discomfort, while the drama comes from intimate moments of regret, loneliness, and unexpected tenderness. The film is an intimate character study rather than a fast‑paced plot thriller — expect thoughtful pacing, sharp observations about aging and family, and a bittersweet emotional payoff that lingers after the credits roll. If you like films that balance wit with poignancy and performances that dig beneath the surface, About Schmidt delivers a humane, occasionally wrenching portrait of a man coming to terms with his life.

Actors: Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney

Director: Alexander Payne

Runtime: 125 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama

6.4 /10 85 /100 7.2 /10 7.4 /10