Patch Adams (UK)
Click to read:
Laughter is contagious
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 111 mins
Retail Price: £9.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Meet Patch Adams (Robin Williams), a doctor who doesn`t look, act or think like any doctor you`ve met before. For Patch, humor is the best medicine, and he`s willing to do just about anything to make his patients laugh - even if it means risking his own career. Based on a true story, Patch Adams combines sidesplitting humor with an inspiring story that transcends traditional comedy.
Special Features:
Making of. Out-takes. Commentary. Production notes. Filmographies. Trailer.
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1 German
Subtitle Tracks:
Hebrew
Polish
Czech
Swedish
Finnish
English
German
Greek
Dutch
Danish
Norwegian
Directed By:
Tom Shadyac
Written By:
Steve Oedekerk
Maureen Mylander
Patch Adams
Starring:
Bob Gunton
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Monica Potter
Daniel London
Robin Williams
Soundtrack By:
Marc Shaiman
Director of Photography:
Phedon Papamichael
Editor:
Don Zimmerman
Costume Designer:
Judy L. Ruskin
Production Designer:
Linda DeScenna
Producer:
Steve Oedekerk
Charles Newirth
Devorah Moos-Hankin
Marvin Minoff
Barry Kemp
Mike Farrell
Alan B. Curtiss
Allegra Clegg
Executive Producer:
Marsha Garces Williams
Tom Shadyac
Distributor:
Universal Pictures
Your Opinions and Comments
Reasons for buying this DVD? A combination of Robin Williams, cheapness, and the comedy angle.
I wasn`t sure if maybe I`d stumpled on a little known gem, or a stinker. Robin Williams is a fairly big name, and has undoubted talent, but for me sometimes he misses. Not a huge miss, its usually entertaining enough, but not quite what I would hope for.
Lets see...
[list]
[*] Mrs Doubtfire - worked for me
[*] Bicentennial Man - good performance, didn`t like the film due to the departure from the novel.
[*] Jumanji - so so
[*] Dead Poets society - good performance, didn`t like the film.
[*] Good Morning Vietnam - worked for me.
[/list]
So - how did this work out?
The Plot
The plot follows a true life story, a Doctor called Hunter "Patch" Adams. He starts out in a mental institution as a patient, where he discovers the healing power of humour.
With this new found faith, he enters medical school, but finds he is up against the establishment.
Medicine should be done the way they want you to do it, and this does not include meeting patients or interacting with them for several years.
He has his own ideas, and talks his way onto the wards to bring amusement and joy to the patients despite their sometimes terminal problems.
He has a number of run ins with the school, who do not like his unconventional approach, despite doing very well at his studies.
There is also tragedy along the way, and some touching moments
The Cast
Robin Williams is the only name I recognise and he does a good job as the wacky doctor. A good job, but not a great job is how I think I`d characterise it. Nothing I can complain about, but nothing too memorable either.
The Visuals/Audio
Nothing remarkable about either visuals or audio. A 5.1 sounds track, but its a dialogue movie.
The Extras
We get a few extras
A making of, that is interesting as the real Patch Adams appears in it, looking, I have to say, appropriately whacky. Would I want to be treated my a doctor like him... hmmmmm. Call me boring and middle class but I think I prefer my doctors a little less bright, and ear-ring bedecked. Anyway - not a bad extra.
Out-takes - some mildly amusing outtakes from the film.
Commentary - I can`t say I`ve listened to this.
Some other bits and pieces of less significance.
Summary
Its a feel good movie, with one or two feel bad moments. Worth a watch, but might be better rented.