An eccentric actor specializing in voice over work takes drastic measures to be with his kids after a bitter divorce from his nagging shrew of a wife gains sole custody of their three children. His solution: get his makeup artist brother (and the brother',s partner) to make an impressive set of clothes and prosthetics to become Mrs. Doubtfire-the new Scottish nanny hired by his ex-wife to take care of the kids and the house while she focuses on her career.
It',s a high concept film that really works. It was great in the 90s, and it still holds up quite well over 20 years later.
Chris Columbus is a rather hit and miss director at times, but this is easily one of his best. It',s funny, memorable, highly quotable, and really does a good job at dealing with tough topics. Divorce is hard on kids and their parents, and the film shows this, but does so in a way where the comedy and drama are mixed pretty evenly.
Robin Williams puts his talents to very effective use, and it seems to me as if this role was tailor made for him. He gets to run wild with his shtick, yes, but he also shows his true acting chops when needed as well, and, though he is immature, he changes, and it is earned. Sally Field, good actress though she is, is rather one note here as the nagging wife. She gives the role a bit more weight due to her skill, but sadly it',s still not the most developed or fleshed out role. The three kids (including Mara Wilson in her film debut) are fine enough, though the older daughter can be a really unlikable bitch at times. Also, it cracks me up how the boy kinda looks like Dave Grohl to an extent.
Other people who show up are Pierce Brosnan as a well-to-do snob trying to take over Williams',s role as family man, Robert Prosky as Williams',s boss at his court-appointed job, and Harvey Fierstein as the makeup artist brother.
The film does run long, and, as I said, some of the characters are not all that likeable or developed, but overall, this is a well meaning, enjoyable, and pretty memorable blast.
0 comments:
Post a Comment