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| An equal opportunity Father's Day review |
Parenthood
is one of the most complex and daunting roles that a person can undertake.
While maintaining the emotional and physical welfare of another person is a
serious matter, the juggling act that is parenting is also rife with comic
possibilities. The 1993 comedy Mrs.
Doubtfire captures the responsibilities, misunderstandings, and love that
make up modern parenting to expert comic effect, while still maintaining a
heartfelt message. In belated honor of
Father’s Day, I’ll be giving my take on this unusual, but always entertaining ode
to fatherhood.
The
film begins with career focused mother Miranda Hillard (Sally Field) arriving
home for her son's birthday only to find that her husband, Daniel (Robin
Williams), has proceeded to begin the festivities without her. While Miranda
had planned a typical celebration with cake and presents, Daniel completely
outdoes her efforts by hosting a wild party for their son and his friends,
which includes loud music and a petting zoo that prompt the neighbors to report
the family to the police for causing a disturbance. The incident infuriates the
already frustrated Miranda, and her ensuing argument with Daniel finally pushes
her to pursue the divorce that she reveals she has been contemplating for some
time. Following the divorce, Miranda is given primary custody of the couple’s
three children and stay-at-home dad Daniel is forced to re-enter the workplace.
The limited visits with his children combined with Miranda’s budding
relationship with a handsome co-worker quickly wear on Daniel, driving him to
devise a plan to reclaim his place in his household; by taking on a new job as
the family’s nanny. The unconventional plot requires him to go so deeply
undercover that neither his ex-wife nor his children will suspect his true identity,
prompting him to assume the identity of a nanny in the firm but fun tradition
of Mary Poppins, the elderly Euphegenia Doubtfire. Under the guise of the
no-nonsense nanny, Daniel is able to spend time with his family and gains vital
insight into what went wrong with his parenting and marriage. As time wears on,
however, the line between Daniel’s true self and the false identity that he has
assumed becomes blurred, leading to a reveal that will ultimately decide the
role that he has in his family’s life.
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| An average American family |
The
film successfully blends comic antics and genuine emotion in a way that makes
the story a smooth blend of comedy and drama that reminds us all of the
importance of family. While the drag routine that is the premise of the film
had already been trod by the likes of such earlier hits as Some Like It Hot and Tootsie,
Mrs. Doubtfire manages to add an
original spin to the concept. Rather than transforming into an attractive young
woman for personal gain, Daniel instead assumes the identity of an elderly woman
in order to preserve his family. As a result, while Daniel’s various
misadventures in womanhood are truly sidesplitting, the motives propelling him
keep the story grounded. The script also avoids relying upon the usual
gender-bending clichés such as mixed romantic messages, learning about the
opposite sex, and the integration of the opposite sex’s behaviors into the main
character’s personality. Instead of such broad humor, the script focuses upon
its characters’ and their specific dilemmas, which adds a poignancy and realism
that would be impossible to create amidst genre clichés. The family drama and
situational comedy are played with equal effectiveness as the audience is drawn
into Daniel’s struggle to maintain his bond with his children without forgetting
the ridiculousness of his predicament.
The
cast lends excellent dramatic and comedic support and carries the film’s
promising premise into a truly enjoyable film experience. Sally Field adds a
level of humanity and depth to her role as the hard pressed and stern Miranda,
making her a truly complex woman rather than a walking stereotype of a rigid
career woman. Similarly, Pierce Brosnan imbues his portrayal of Miranda’s new
boyfriend with enough charm for audiences to understand her attraction to
him, but also includes a subtly off-putting self assurance in his portrayal that
ensures that audiences will continue to root for Daniel to win her back. Lisa
Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, and Mara Wilson all provide endearing but believable
performances as the Hillard children, especially Jakub and Lawrence who show
the effects of divorce upon their characters without ever resorting to
histrionics. Harvey Fierstein and Scott Capurro also provide hilarious turns as
Daniel’s make-up artist brother and his boyfriend while Anne Haney’s rigid
social worker, Mrs. Sellner, excellently counters Daniel’s zaniness. Despite
the excellent performances of the supporting cast, the film truly belongs to
Robin Williams. Over the course of the film, Williams demonstrates a variety of
emotions as two distinctly different characters with complete believability.
His role is particularly complicated due to the dual nature of his character
which calls upon him to not only play both characters with equal skill but to also
play Mrs. Doubtfire in such a way as to ensure that audiences are always aware
that Daniel is present beneath the wig and glasses. Not only does he perfectly
mimic the accent and mannerisms required for Mrs. Doubtfire, but he also
creates a layered performance that makes her stand alone as a fully-fleshed
character despite her being just a disguise for Daniel.
Mrs. Doubtfire is a truly
unique film that is far from the drag that gender-bending comedies have become.
The film combines slapstick comedy with heartfelt drama in a way that truly
captures the ups and downs of family life. The excellent script and superb
performances lend sincere emotion and sharp wit to what could have easily been
a generic premise and allow the film to reach the heights of a genuine crowd pleaser.
The film serves as a hilarious reminder of the crucial role that fathers and
father figures play in children’s lives and the strength of family bonds in the
face of adversity. While she may not be as magical as Mary Poppins, or as
musical as Maria von Trapp, Mrs. Doubtfire is a truly unique addition to cannon
of nannies in cinema who proves that some of the greatest blessings really do
come in disguise.
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| The resemblance is uncanny! |
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