It's ironic that the ways in which this seems to have aged poorly-Melvin being homophobic, casually racist, and more-has actually made this movie more relevant. It forces you to think about every main character and the main theme is transparent and codified in dialogue: "You look at someone long enough, you discover their humanity."
A lot of reviews condemn Melvin, but the film actually never asks the question as to whether or not Melvin, in particular, deserves pity, sympathy, and empathy. Because everyone deserves that, even people like him. There is not any real altruism instilled in him, or arguably anybody, but simply by proxy, empathy and love is a transformative experience for everyone involved. That's what the move is about.
Not only that, but adjacent to OCD, which Melvin has, is Tourette's syndrome. I wish it had gone into whether or not any of his verbal compulsions stem from that, but it seems to imply that. Regardless, though, I think that his working toward reparations and his actions speak louder than his words. Surely a remote viewer of an audience can work to extend that kind of empathy to someone who is very challenging to extend it toward? In the time of political polarization and cancel culture and the like, regardless of how you feel about the message of the film, it is more pertinent and interesting and dynamic than most comedies. And no comedy is quite like this, that I've seen.
A lot of reviews condemn Melvin, but the film actually never asks the question as to whether or not Melvin, in particular, deserves pity, sympathy, and empathy. Because everyone deserves that, even people like him. There is not any real altruism instilled in him, or arguably anybody, but simply by proxy, empathy and love is a transformative experience for everyone involved. That's what the move is about.
Not only that, but adjacent to OCD, which Melvin has, is Tourette's syndrome. I wish it had gone into whether or not any of his verbal compulsions stem from that, but it seems to imply that. Regardless, though, I think that his working toward reparations and his actions speak louder than his words. Surely a remote viewer of an audience can work to extend that kind of empathy to someone who is very challenging to extend it toward? In the time of political polarization and cancel culture and the like, regardless of how you feel about the message of the film, it is more pertinent and interesting and dynamic than most comedies. And no comedy is quite like this, that I've seen.