Mrs. Doubtfire

In the wake of Robin Williams’ untimely death, I thought I would review one of his most popular family classics, Mrs. Doubtfire.

It’s hard to imagine someone with such an unusual command of the art of comedy ending his life so tragically. Like many fans, I am still bewildered that this could have happened, and at the ripe age of 63, but I guess my confusion reveals an ignorance of the power of depression. Sadly, addiction to alcohol and drugs, and the damage from a sad, lonely childhood, among other things, eventually won out, robbing the world of Williams’ extraordinary gift. However, I am so very thankful that his humor, wit, and one-of-a-kind hilarity are preserved for us and future generations in such wonderful films as Dead Poets Society, RV, Good Will Hunting, Aladdin, and of course, Mrs. Doubtfire. 

I was a bit teary-eyed when I pulled the DVD from my private movie library and popped it into the Blu-ray. Long ago, I fell in love with Euphegenia Doubtfire, as did Sally Field (sporting an adorable bob) and her three kids, Chris, Lydia and Natalie. The intimidation from those steely, blue eyes, mannish appearance, and strict, British decorum fades away at the sound of Mrs. Doubtfire’s gentle Scottish brogue peppered with “dear” after every other word. With a tongue as sharp as a whip, she has the ability to pinpoint the root of the problem, figuratively cut it out, all the while building up everyone’s self-esteem and getting plenty of laughs along the way. I’m reminded of Tyler Perry’s Madea character and Dustin Hoffman’s Dorothy Michaels in another favorite, Tootsie.

As most of you probably know, when I speak of Mrs. Doubtfire, I am speaking of Robin Williams in drag hamming it up in his usual spastic, almost schizophrenic style. But before the comedy takes off, the story starts tragically with the cloud of an impending divorce looming over the family. Once again, Williams has lost his job as a voice-over actor leaving the financial responsibilities to his high-powered interior designer wife (Field) who has just taken on a fabulous new client, played by Pierce Brosnan. After coming home to their posh San Francisco mansion and finding the house in a wreck, Field takes action and files for separation. Because of Williams’ erratic behavior, he loses custody of the children until the court determines he can hold down a job and attain a suitable place to live.

Since Williams is a man who adores his children and can’t imagine going a single day without seeing them, he takes drastic measures to ensure his rightful place as their father. Using his brother’s skills at theater makeup and prosthetics, he conjures up a disguise of a frumpy, middle-aged English woman with years of experience as a nanny. The disguise, complete with an affected Scottish/English accent, is so good that it fools the entire family, enabling him to land a position as their part-time housekeeper. 

Where Williams was sloppy and irresponsible as a selfish husband, Mrs. Doubtfire is neat and tidy, cleaning the house from top to bottom, getting the children to finish their homework, and making sure a healthy, gourmet meal is on the table by the time Field returns home from work. She even takes the time to sit at the kitchen table and have long, heart-felt, woman-to-woman talks with Field. Before long, the entire family falls for the eccentric English marm, harboring no suspicions that she is really their dad in drag. Not until an inopportune bathroom moment reveals the truth to Chris and Lydia. After getting over the initial shock, they agree to keep Williams’ ruse a secret from Field and Natalie.

There is so much I love about this movie, one of them being Pierce Brosnan, who plays the straight man to Williams’ quirky comedian. Looking dapper and elegant, he is the antithesis of Williams and is a viable competitor for the family’s affections. As he makes the moves on Field, Mrs. Doubtfire ratchets up her sharp tongue, letting zingers fly that make everyone cringe. I have to admit, some of them border on an R rating, but since they come at a fast-paced staccato style from a humorous Williams, they whizz by before the viewer has time to ponder what was said. This is the genius of Williams’ comedy – he always seemed to be one step ahead of his audience, taking us down funny roads full of wonderful jokes and imitations that keep the senses moving at lightning speed!

** SPOILER ALERT **

As in most great Hollywood comedies, there are hilarious romps that keep the audience in stitches while Williams maneuvers keeping Mrs. Doubtfire’s identity a secret from the court liaison, his future employer, and most importantly, Field. But surprisingly, when the truth is revealed, it is done in a way that saves Brosnan, Williams’ nemesis. Even though it was performed in typical Robin Williams’ style, it was a selfless act of love, putting the needs and desires of Field and his children above his own.

The ending is perfect, with the family coming to a place of restoration, though not what many of us Christians would like to see. Williams and Field remain divorced, but he resumes his place in the children’s lives as the loving, funny dad, complete with new job that enables Mrs. Doubtfire to live on and share her unusual love to the entire world.

A final message is delivered by Mrs. Doubtfire on her highly ranked television show, encouraging children of divorce to disbelieve the lie that they are somehow at fault. Divorce is a decision made by two adults that in no way reflects their love for their children. It touched my heart to think that perhaps one broken child might hear this message from a funny-looking comedian dressed like a woman and be delivered from the guilt that comes from a fractured home. This scene alone should be enough to make Robin Williams proud.

Besides the impeccable humor, he has left all of us movie-lovers a wonderful legacy in Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire! Robin Williams, you and Mrs. Doubtfire will be sorely missed!

Current Movie Review-Dead Poets Society

Read my latest review of one of my favorite classic Robin Williams flicks. A young Ethan Hawke is outstanding as well!

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_movies.html

This month I decided to do a classic movie review, honoring one of my favorites, Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams and a very young Ethan Hawke. My teenage children love this film too, probably because of its timeless story of parental oppression during the high school years when adult independence is just beginning to take root. It’s a theme that all of us are very familiar with, despite the love and support of caring parents. At some point, all of us must make the choice to follow our God-given passions and desires, even if they are very different from what our mothers or fathers had planned. And then of course, there is Robin Williams.

I would rank this film, along with Mrs. Doubtfire, and Good Will Hunting, as one of my favorite Robin Williams movies, because it provides the perfect combination of funny and serious. No one can match Williams’ quick wit and zany impressions that are enhanced by his kooky grin and unusual looks. He’s still adorable in my opinion.

Part of the timelessness of this movie is the setting. It takes place in the 50s, at an all-male New England prep school where over eighty percent of the graduates end up in Ivy League schools. It’s about as close as the US can get to English aristocracy, and the expectation of the parents who send their sons to these schools is nothing less than good, old-fashioned American royalty: attend the finest universities in the land, major in business, law, or medicine, marry the “right” girl, and settle down to a successful and lucrative life that repeats itself generation after generation. All is well and good until Robin Williams’ character, Professor Keating, a very unconventional English literature teacher, joins the faculty. Once a bit of a hell-raiser in his school-boy days, he is an accomplished teacher whose methods are a little different from the norm of a posh prep school.

Besides Ethan Hawke (who plays Todd Anderson), there are three other main characters who provide the structure for the story. All are wonderful actors, but sadly none of them have risen to great heights in the film industry. I especially liked Gale Hansen (who plays Charlie Dalton) and Josh Charles (who plays Knox Overstreet – now seen in The Good Wife on TV). Robert Sean Leonard (who plays Neil Perry) was a bit of heartthrob in his day (now seen in House MD). Only Williams and Hawke have remained on the Hollywood A-list. Regardless of their lack of movie star success, the cast is a great one, and provides a wonderful combination of bad boy, intellectual, brooding deep thinker, and emotional romantic, all of which play well against Williams’ unique humor. This nice choice of actors is another reason the film is so appealing.

The story is beautifully told, starting with Keating introducing his students on the first day of class to the art of poetry. He takes everyone out to the trophy cases where portraits of former students line the shelves, their time for glory having long past. The message Keating gives them is Carpe Diem, which is Latin for “seize the day.” He encourages them to make the most of the life given to them, to make it extraordinary. As the boys lean in to examine the faces of those who have passed through the same halls years before, Keating whispers Carpe Diem in a haunting whisper that sets the tone for the entire movie. In that one scene, the viewer knows something exciting, yet tragic is about to unfold, and these boys’ lives will be forever changed by it.

Williams’ humor is exquisite; it a wonderful blend of mimicry and witty encouragement that gives the boys the strength to step outside the school’s stiff norms and rules and think for themselves, to examine life from a place of passion and romance and not just the practicality of career and money. I loved how he had them rip out the introduction in their poetry text book and tear it with great vigor, chastising the pompous words espoused by a dry, unimaginative academic. It’s these kinds of wonderful teachers that make such an impact in our lives.

The movie picks up steam when the boys learn that Keating had once been part of the Dead Poets Society, a clandestine group that embraced this line of passionate free thinking, much to the disapproval of the school’s administration. Encouraged by the message of Carpe Diem, the boys decide to resurrect the Dead Poets Society, using Keating’s old book of poetry as inspiration. But when the boys’ newfound courage oversteps the bounds and wanders into rebellion, trouble awaits. Good intentions turn to tragedy and the pressure to conform becomes stronger than ever.

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, be prepared for a major tear-jerker plot point that sends the boys on a downward spiral and causes Keating to lose his job. I remember being very moved by the injustice of parental oppression that dictates career choices without any consideration to individual skills, talents, or most importantly, desires. Some kids aren’t strong enough to stand up to the pressures placed on them and so they succumb to depression and suicide. We read about these sad cases every day, wondering what could have been said or done to render a different outcome. This movie suggests letting a child follow their God-given passions and let life unfold as it is supposed to. That is a very good message for every parent.

Dead Poets Society is a classic film with an uplifting ending that will endure for years to come as an excellent, quality movie with a touching message. It is a timeless tale that appeals to the hearts of all generations. It makes us laugh and cry, but most importantly, it makes us think and consider. Are we living the life God has intended for us? If not, then Carpe Diem, seize the day! Let’s be like Todd Anderson and his friends and embrace the boldness of the Professor Keatings of the world, insisting on living an extraordinary life! It’s never too late…