When you think
back to movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, you just have to appreciate it. The
movie seems like something that wouldn't work. I recall when my cousin got the
film from the video store, I didn’t sit to watch it then because of the plot in
the '90s. I only saw it much later in the 2000s and was amazed.
The movie is
funny, good, and the makeup is fantastic, which went on to win Best Makeup at
the Academy Awards. The late Robin Williams is at his best, and his character
is hard to forget. The movie's director, Chris Columbus, did a fantastic job of
not letting the comedy overwhelm the sentimentality of the film. It's not
weighed down by the challenges of the parents but instead showcases the
difficulty of being divorced, trying to move on with your life, and the
challenges faced by the children.
The movie is
based on the 1987 book Madame Doubtfire by author Anne Fine. The plot
introduces us to voice actor Daniel (Williams), who, according to his wife,
Miranda (Sally Field), is irresponsible. He just quit his job, and she was
tired of him, so she filed for a divorce.
The divorce was
hard on Daniel, who loves their three children immensely and will do anything
for them. However, the court grants sole custody of the children to Miranda.
Daniel can only get shared custody if he finds a job and a residence. He
immediately gets a job as a clerk at a TV station and rents an apartment. Still
wanting to be with his children every day, he sees that Miranda is searching
for a housekeeper and gets an idea.
Daniel goes to
his brother, a makeup artist, and they come up with the Mrs. Doubtfire persona,
complete with a costume and a prosthetic mask to make him look like an older
woman.
He gets the job
after a successful interview, and now Daniel is close to his kids as he wants
to be. The problem arises when he finds out that Miranda has started seeing
someone else, and his children begin to suspect that there’s more to this
housekeeper than just a sweet face.
Seeing it again
now, the movie reminds me of some films that came out before it, like Some
Like It Hot (1959) and Tootsie (1982). Some Like It Hot is
better, but I like Mrs. Doubtfire more than I did Tootsie.
In addition to
the Academy Award, the movie also won Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best
Actor for Robin Williams. The movie received great critical ratings and was a
huge box-office hit. Based on a $25 million budget, it made over $440 million.
That amount of turnover, even now, twenty-seven years later, is massive and
could warrant a sequel. The problem, however, is getting Williams to commit to
a script. Since 2001, he had rejected many scripts, even though he was open to
the idea of a sequel. When he finally committed to doing one with the director
in 2014, his death that same year put an end to that plan.
The movie is
also ranked #67 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Years... 100
Laughs. And it is still just as watchable today.
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