Grade: B-

Verdict: In this glossy crowd-pleaser, Mel Gibson discovers his inner woman — and Helen Hunt.

Details: Starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Directed by Nancy Meyers. Rated PG-13 for sexual content (a no-nudity lovemaking scene) and profanity. Two hours, 7 minutes.

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Review: Writer/director Nancy Meyers clearly believes she knows what women want. Mel Gibson being romantic. Mel Gibson being a rascal. Mel Gibson being funny. Mel Gibson being sensitive. Mel Gibson with his shirt off.

Well, you get the idea. In her uneven but effective crowd-pleaser, “What Women Want,” she gives us Mel, Mel and more Mel. Oh, and Helen Hunt. Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a pleased-with-himself playboy who calls his housekeeper “babe” and his receptionist “honey.” Nick is in line for a big promotion at his ad agency. But at the last minute, the job goes to new hire Darcy Maguire (Hunt). His boss (Alan Alda) explains that the agency needs to capitalize on an increasingly female-driven market. He likes Nick, but, as he says, “You can get into their [women's] pants better than anyone I know, but getting into their psyche is something else.”

Then Nick has a freak accident that almost fries him. Instead, he wakes up intact and imbued with the ability to read women's minds. At first, he's unnerved, but a visit to shrink Bette Midler helps him see things in a new light. She says, “If you know what women want, you can rule.” Or at least get that job he wanted. He uses his gift to subtly undermine Darcy. But the more he learns about women, the more he learns how to be a man. That is, how to be human.

Meyers herself has said that her film is rooted in the old Rock Hudson/Doris Day romantic comedies. But in a welcome nod to now, Nick initially lusts after Darcy's office, not her body. The bod he goes for belongs to the vulnerable Marisa Tomei. whose thoughts set him on the road to being a good guy (and a better lover).

“What Women Want” goes awry in much the same way Meyers' 1987 hit, “Baby Boom” did. It begins with a smart, snappily amusing premise, sustains it for much of the movie, then lapses into a gooey, smiley-face third act. Meyers just can't leave well enough alone. Nick saves lives, careers, even his daughter's prom night. And hearing Gibson say “My hero” to Hunt really isn't what most women want. Worse, it suggests a kind of badge-wearing pseudo-feminism.

That said, “What Women Want” still qualifies as breezy, lightweight entertainment. Gibson, who hasn't done comedy in a while, is at his most adorable, whether he's trying to get in touch with his feminine side by waxing his legs or tossing off a spot-on Sean Connery imitation. As for Hunt, it's nice to see her looking glamorous for a change. She's best at the beginning when she plays Darcy as a smiling barracuda who swiftly redecorates the conference room into a let's-share communal space. And while its reassuring and refreshing to see a powerful woman who's still open to romance, the more involved she becomes with Gibson, the less involved we are with her.

If you're in the mood for some well-done fluff — with some deft performances and bright dialogue — you could do a lot worse. Granted, it's a one-joke movie, but on the whole, the joke's pretty darn good.

— Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Cox News Service