Just what the doctor ordered
"Patch Adams"
Overall Rating: ****
Sometimes, usually when you receive a bill from a hospital with $60 aspirin tablets, you wonder who needs treatment more--the patients or the doctors. "Patch Adams" asserts that the medical establishment could stand to heal itself.
"Patch Adams" is about the old saying that goes "laughter is the best medicine." After the death of his wife, Hunter Adams (Robin Williams) commits himself because he is suicidal. In the mental hospital, he sees doctors who are so inattentive that the most outrageous statement will go right by them, and by communicating with patients, he discovers that by helping others he helps himself. Even before he leaves the hospital, he realizes he wants to be a doctor to help people. Yet when he gets to medical school, he encounters professors who don't agree with his belief that doctors should "treat the person and not the disease."
All the actors in "Patch Adams" are wonderful. As great as their performances are, Robin Williams owns the movie, again proving himself as one of the greatest living actors. In many respects, "Patch Adams" is like Robin Williams' earlier effort, "Good Morning, Vietnam." In both cases, you have an iconoclastic genius who sees a better way to do things, but runs up against the system and its bureaucrats. (Interestingly, both films are based on true stories and both Adrian Cronauer from "Good Morning, Vietnam" and Patch Adams are real people--Hollywood isn't really repeating itself so much as history is.) Similarly, in both films, Williams shines. In the comic scenes of "Patch Adams," Adams is about as funny as Cronauer, but Adams and the movie have something of a more serious tone underlying the comedy. Williams manages both the serious and the funny masterfully.
Lest Williams get all the credit for what was an excellent performance, the filmwriters provided good material for him to work with. "Patch Adams" is very funny in places; Adams discovers that a clown nose can accomplish more than any pill in many cases--and sets to work amusing patients and the audience. The movie is also very touching; Adams is there to comfort suffering patients. He also falls in love with Carin (Monica Potter), another medical student in his class, adding another dimension to the character and the film. Though Adams believes medical service should be free, the movie really focuses on Adams' attempts to change the system--almost singlehandedly at times; I was relieved that--however briefly it was handled--the problem of the high cost of medicine is acknowledged as being complex.
The script of "Patch Adams" does have some loose ends. Adams seems able to withstand a hostile bureaucracy's full weight better than he should--considering that he ignores advice from his allies in his cause. The film also glosses over a couple of things where he was in the wrong--most notably a theft. In both cases, the basis in truth may have limited what the filmmakers could do, and Adams' is singlemindedness accounts for both; but they are still weak points.
Since the film lacks any graphic on-screen sex or violence (the scene in the asylum where Adams and his psychiatric hospital roommate pretend to shoot imaginary squirrels could count as violent, but it isn't graphic), "Patch Adams" could be safer for children than some films. There is some partial nudity, and a moderate amount of strong language. How much children would enjoy "Patch Adams" is another issue. They'll get most of the jokes, (though not all); but the film becomes serious in places and kids may find more than one scene too low key.
On the whole, "Patch Adams" is an enjoyable movie. Though it is more serious in its tone, if you loved "Good Morning, Vietnam," you'll love "Patch Adams." In the end, I'd say that "Patch Adams" will make you feel better immediately.
Title: "Patch Adams"
Release date: December 25, 1998
Overall Rating: ****
Sometimes, usually when you receive a bill from a hospital with $60 aspirin tablets, you wonder who needs treatment more--the patients or the doctors. "Patch Adams" asserts that the medical establishment could stand to heal itself.
"Patch Adams" is about the old saying that goes "laughter is the best medicine." After the death of his wife, Hunter Adams (Robin Williams) commits himself because he is suicidal. In the mental hospital, he sees doctors who are so inattentive that the most outrageous statement will go right by them, and by communicating with patients, he discovers that by helping others he helps himself. Even before he leaves the hospital, he realizes he wants to be a doctor to help people. Yet when he gets to medical school, he encounters professors who don't agree with his belief that doctors should "treat the person and not the disease."
All the actors in "Patch Adams" are wonderful. As great as their performances are, Robin Williams owns the movie, again proving himself as one of the greatest living actors. In many respects, "Patch Adams" is like Robin Williams' earlier effort, "Good Morning, Vietnam." In both cases, you have an iconoclastic genius who sees a better way to do things, but runs up against the system and its bureaucrats. (Interestingly, both films are based on true stories and both Adrian Cronauer from "Good Morning, Vietnam" and Patch Adams are real people--Hollywood isn't really repeating itself so much as history is.) Similarly, in both films, Williams shines. In the comic scenes of "Patch Adams," Adams is about as funny as Cronauer, but Adams and the movie have something of a more serious tone underlying the comedy. Williams manages both the serious and the funny masterfully.
Lest Williams get all the credit for what was an excellent performance, the filmwriters provided good material for him to work with. "Patch Adams" is very funny in places; Adams discovers that a clown nose can accomplish more than any pill in many cases--and sets to work amusing patients and the audience. The movie is also very touching; Adams is there to comfort suffering patients. He also falls in love with Carin (Monica Potter), another medical student in his class, adding another dimension to the character and the film. Though Adams believes medical service should be free, the movie really focuses on Adams' attempts to change the system--almost singlehandedly at times; I was relieved that--however briefly it was handled--the problem of the high cost of medicine is acknowledged as being complex.
The script of "Patch Adams" does have some loose ends. Adams seems able to withstand a hostile bureaucracy's full weight better than he should--considering that he ignores advice from his allies in his cause. The film also glosses over a couple of things where he was in the wrong--most notably a theft. In both cases, the basis in truth may have limited what the filmmakers could do, and Adams' is singlemindedness accounts for both; but they are still weak points.
Since the film lacks any graphic on-screen sex or violence (the scene in the asylum where Adams and his psychiatric hospital roommate pretend to shoot imaginary squirrels could count as violent, but it isn't graphic), "Patch Adams" could be safer for children than some films. There is some partial nudity, and a moderate amount of strong language. How much children would enjoy "Patch Adams" is another issue. They'll get most of the jokes, (though not all); but the film becomes serious in places and kids may find more than one scene too low key.
On the whole, "Patch Adams" is an enjoyable movie. Though it is more serious in its tone, if you loved "Good Morning, Vietnam," you'll love "Patch Adams." In the end, I'd say that "Patch Adams" will make you feel better immediately.
Title: "Patch Adams"
Release date: December 25, 1998
MPAA rating: PG-13
Overall rating: ****
Overall rating: ****
Aprox. run time: 115 min.
Director: Tom Shadyac
Writers: Steve Oedekerk (screenplay), Maureen Mylander (book), Hunter Doherty Adams (book)
Stars: Robin Williams, Monica Potter
Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/PatchAdm.htm
Director: Tom Shadyac
Writers: Steve Oedekerk (screenplay), Maureen Mylander (book), Hunter Doherty Adams (book)
Stars: Robin Williams, Monica Potter
Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/PatchAdm.htm
Added to blog site: 8/3/09
Labels: Movie review, ReviewsbyJohn
posted by John at 12/27/1998 05:28:00 AM
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