She makes dinner. She does windows. She reads bedtime stories. She’s a blessing… in disguise. Loving but irresponsible dad Daniel Hillard, estranged from his exasperated spouse, is crushed by a court order allowing only weekly visits with his kids. When Daniel learns his ex needs a housekeeper, he gets the job — disguised as a British nanny. Soon he becomes not only his children’s best pal but the kind of parent he should have been from the start.
Written by Dean Zarbaugh II
I don’t normally hype up celebrities or put them on a pedestal but Robin Williams was different. He was a huge source of entertainment for me from Genie in Aladdin, to his wildly hilarious stand up comedy album Live on Broadway in 2002. That was an album I could quote from front to back from memory. In a time where our nation was still reeling from the attacks on 9/11, Robin Williams swooped in and showed the country it was okay to laugh again. It was essential to laugh again. There’s something inherently true about the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” It’s factually incorrect, as the best medicine is medicine, however, there is a healing component in our laughter. It helps our brains to stop focusing on the negative all the time and enjoy the beauty of comedy.
As a present for graduating from film school, my dad took me to see Robin Williams perform live at the University of Central Florida during his “Weapons of Self Destruction” tour. My dad wasn’t normally one to easily give up a laugh, but he was falling over in his seat laughing at Williams. Dad would be similarly put in stitches watching movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, The Birdcage, or even his appearance on Whose Line is it Anyway? That’s the best gift Williams had. He could even win over the biggest sticks in the mud that seemed allergic to fun. Williams took no prisoners on stage and that show in Orlando was no different. He literally spent the entire first 15 minutes of his time roasting the college administration to their faces over a scandal involving Michael Jordan’s son. It was bliss. His death truly hurt and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to bring myself to watch him on screen again. I would find myself putting on a movie starring him and be unable to enjoy the performances knowing what we now know. I’m finally getting back around to enjoying his wonderful gift for comedy and first up on the docket is one of my all-time favorite performances of his: Mrs. Doubtfire. I remember seeing this as a kid and my entire family being in stitches. My parents laughing at all the adult jokes I didn’t get at the time and me laughing at Williams doing his slapstick shtick. I’m a lifelong fan of Robin Williams and his films, standup, improv and TV shows, and Mrs. Doubtfire is one I return to constantly when I want to remember the greatness that was Robin Williams.
Chris Columbus, fresh off a trio of successes, Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, teams up with Robin Williams for one of the funniest movies ever made, and an all-time classic. However, before they could get there, Columbus had the arduous task ahead of him on how to capture the comedic mania that was Robin Williams near the height of his stardom. In order to get everything and ensure it was able to be cut together, Columbus had as many as four cameras rolling during any given take to capture the honest reactions from the other cast members. Legend has it that there exists a much more adult cut of the film thanks to all of the improv from Williams. Chris Columbus has mentioned that Williams would often veer way off course from a PG-13 rating during takes. I would give anything to see the R-rated edit of the film. I was hoping it would be a special edition on a 4K release, but that hope was dashed when the release was announced. Chris Columbus knows how to work magic behind the camera and he pills another rabbit out of the hat with Mrs. Doubtfire, marking another defining classic of 1990s cinema that we owe to Mr. Columbus.
I tend to gravitate towards movies about dad’s trying their best to be a father because of my relationship with my own father. We didn’t always get along, but I always knew he was trying his best. Daniel Hillard is very similar in that regard. Did he always get it right? No. Was he always trying? Yes. Could Daniel have been a better husband to Miranda? Absolutely, and I’m glad that everything isn’t swept under the rug at the end by showing them getting back together. Like Mrs. Doubtfire says near the end:
Mrs Doubtfire: there are all sorts of different families, Katie. Some families have one mommy, some families have one daddy, or two families. And some children live with their uncle or aunt. Some live with their grandparents, and some children live with foster parents. And some live in separate homes, in separate neighborhoods, in different areas of the country – and they may not see each other for days, or weeks, months… even years at a time. But if there’s love, dear… those are the ties that bind, and you’ll have a family in your heart, forever.
Mrs. Doubtfire is a delightfully entertaining comedy that makes you laugh but can also make you cry. The script was written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, which was based on the 1987 novel Madame Doubtfire, by author Anne Fine. It’s a wonderful story that is relatable to a lot of people who grew up in that era. That message Mrs. Doubtfire sends out to her viewers at the end about how families can look different rings more true today than in 1993.
Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard, a devoted father with a bad track record for keeping a job. Not for lack of work ethic either. He simply doesn’t want to promote cigarettes to kids in a cartoon in which he voices. An artist that actually takes a stand in the face of a paycheck? Rare these days. Williams is a walking masterclass in improv and character work, but he can equally shine in his dramatic turns. The scene where he pleads with the judge not to take his kids away from him, Williams is speaking from the heart, no acting involved. He was a genuine person which makes it all the more heartbreaking to watch. Williams delivers every emotional beat with an ease only an actor of his caliber can bring. Robin Williams was a true craftsman in acting and knew exactly where the heart of every scene was and stuck every landing. Williams was obviously best known for the rapid fire way he performed with his voice, but his eyes could express the deepest sadness or the purest joy.
Sally Field as Miranda Hillard is a great foil to the energy of Williams. A mother and a wife who wants what’s best for her and her kids, even if it means getting a divorce. Field gives the role her distinct charm while also showing the emotional turmoil she goes through dealing with cleaning up after Daniel’s antics. She’s at the end of her rope and looking for a change. Field is a consummate professional, and her playing it straight grounds the film in reality.
Pierce Brosnan plays her former friend and current client/potential love interest Stuart Dunmeyer. Stuart fills a role that was common in 90’s comedies: a potential or new stepfather figure for the protagonist’s kid who does nothing to deserve the villain role they occupy. By all accounts, and even when he was alone, it seemed Stuart genuinely cared for the kids and wanted to do right by them, even when we find out that Stu never wanted anything to do with kids, he’s quite clear that Miranda’s kids are the exception to that rule. There is no alternate angle for him. No devilish plot to seduce Miranda and have her all for himself. He’s simply a man who has grown with time and feels differently than when he was younger. All Daniel does is sabotage their budding relationship out of jealousy. I’d like to have seen whether or not Miranda and Stuart stayed together, and I hope they did. He does seem to be a pretty great guy.
All three kids, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, and Mara Wilson work well as siblings. They have great chemistry together and come off genuine. Mara Wilson’s streak in the 90s is nigh unbeatable. She was lucky enough to not only work with Robin Williams here, but Richard Attenborough the next year in the Miracle on 34th Street remake, and Danny DeVito in Matilda a couple years later. She’s one of the greatest child actors to come out of Hollywood. Harvey Fierstein and Scott Capurro are a blast as Frank and Stuart. It’s always fun to see legend (and Northeast Ohio native) Martin Mull pop up. Anne Haney plays Mrs. Sellner, the case worker and her work alongside Williams prepped her for working with Jim Carrey in a few short years.
Mrs. Doubtfire is a hilarious comedy that will have you laughing throughout while simultaneously grabbing you by the heartstrings. It’s a well crafted film that celebrates families of all kinds, and brings joy with every viewing. We were lucky to be privilege to the genius of Robin Williams, the human Tasmanian devil, and by all accounts a genuinely good human being. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be perfecting my imitation of a hot dog.
FINAL MARKS: A
Leave a Reply