Starring Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Howard Hessman, June Squibb, Len Cariou. Directed by Alexander Payne. Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) is retiring from a lifetime of service as an actuary for an Insurance Company and feels utterly adrift. His only daughter Jeannie (Davis) is about to marry nice guy but a bit of a boob. And then his wife Helen (Squibb) dies suddenly after 42 years of marriage. Warren is desperate to find something meaningful in his thoroughly unimpressive life. He sees an infomercial and sponsors a young African child. When writing Ndugu, Warren talks about his family and proceeds to unload all his feelings and fears in his letters, saying things to Ndugu he wishes he had said to others. He also sets out on a journey, exploring his roots across Nebraska in the 35-foot motor home his late wife had pressured him to buy. His ultimate destination is Denver, where he hopes to bridge the gulf between himself and his estranged daughter by arriving early to help with her wedding preparations, Unfortunately, he hates the groom-to-be Randall (Dermot Mulroney), a mediocre, underachieving waterbed salesman. To make matters worse, Warren is appalled by the free-spirited nature and boorish behavior of his soon-to-be in-laws (Bates and Hesseman). Warren grows swiftly convinced that his new purpose in life is to stop his daughter's marriage. About Schmidt is an interesting and gently funny journey featuring excellent performances, and it's worth the drive to Denver, or your closest theatre. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page