♥♥♥♥♥
+ 2nd Best Movie of the Year
+ Best American Movie of the Year + Best Family Movie of the Year + Best Mega-hit Movie of the Year + Best Poster of the Year + Most Profitable Movie of the Year: 151.48 mil. $ range + Best San Francisco Movie of the Year
 |
| The wonderful trickster-poster for Chris Columbus' Mrs. Doubtfire |
When the nuclear Hillard family breaks up, because the mother can no longer live with her husband's reckless, impulsive behavior, he is only allowed to visit their kids on Saturdays. But, because of his immense love for them, he finds another way to get to be a part of their lives ... - as their English housekeeper Mrs. Doubtfire!
Mrs. Doubtfire was a sensational worldwide hit in 1993, in which it was only bested by Jurassic Park!
The film is a testament to Robin Williams' (Good Will Hunting (1997)) formidable talent and range as both a divine comedian and a very gifted dramatic actor. He totally pulls off the journey his character goes through; the child-like father, the way he is dethroned and finds an opening, which he pursues vehemently due to his desperation and love. Rarely has a screen character's fight for anything been more shared with its audience than Daniel/Doubtfire/Williams' struggle to be with his children and fight for the survival of his family in Mrs. Doubtfire.
But Mrs. Doubtfire is also a film that works in general: It's a case of unassuming, brilliant casting for one thing:
Sally Field (Lincoln (2012)) is perfect as the unreasonable, modern woman, who plows her way out of the family instead of simply trying a bit harder to make it work. Behind her very realistic portrayal are the three kids, who are all great and totally believable as Williams and Field's kids; adorable Mara Wilson (Mathilda (1996)) takes quite a few laughs because of her sincere, childish reactions in the film. In other parts, we see endearing Robert Prosky (Last Action Hero (1993)), Pierce Brosnan (Love Is All You Need/Den Skaldede Frisør (2012)), who is fun as the inhibited British Stu, and Harvey Fierstein (Bullets over Broadway (1994)) as Daniel's brother: He and Scott Capurro (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), voice) play the gay couple, and overplay the exuberance a bit, but it's nice to see an accepted, well-functioning gay couple play a positive part of a major family movie in any case.
The details:
The film also has an accentuating, fine score by Howard Shore (The Departed (2006)), which heightens the strong, emotional scenes that, especially towards the film's end, makes me more than a bit misty-eyed.
The film is written by Randi Mayem Singer (Tooth Fairy (2010)) and Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday (2003)), based on the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine (Jennifer's Diary (1996)). It is directed by family movie specialist Chris Columbus (Home Alone (1990)), who is soon premiering his funny-looking new movie Pixels (2015), in which video games attack earth... - Check out its trailer here.
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of those movies that made the late Williams known and beloved the world over, not least by the children he made laugh and moved with his compassion and humanity. Here with a story that holds some real relevance for many children of broken families. The film speaks to them; it speaks some truth and it doesn't sugarcoat the reality or erase all the problems in the end.
It's a wonderful, very funny and touching film.
Related post:
1993 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess
 |
| Mara Wilson is a joy to behold in Chris Columbus' Mrs. Doubtfire |
Cost: 25 mil. $
Box office: 441.2 mil. $
= Huge hit
[Mrs. Doubtfire earned its own budget ... - In the UK alone! (20.9 mil. £) The film made 219.1 mil. $ in the States (50 % of the total gross) and so was a big hit on a global scale. It also won an Oscar for Best Makeup.]
What do you think of Mrs. Doubtfire?
Other great family films that deal with separation and/or divorce?
No comments:
Post a Comment