Video/DVD Review: Mrs. Doubtfire
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that as funny as this movie is, it's
really about the pain of separation and divorce. Serious issues
such as the perception that Daniel is a bad father because he
doesn't make a lot of money, and the implied criticism of
careerist mother, Miranda, are buried under a lot of padding
and jokes. Kids whose families are going through divorce might
find this painful in spots (particularly the separations as
seen from the parental perspective). Kids who fear separation
should not see this until they feel safe and secure. But some
kids may find the movie helpful because it lessens feelings of
being alone or unique.
Families can talk about the impact of divorce in families. Why
is Daniel seen as too irresponsible to have custody? Do your
kids think that's fair? What about the working mom -- does the
fact that she works full time and makes more money than Daniel
make her a "better" parent? If you are going through a divorce
and have kids, sit and watch this with them. You'll laugh,
you'll cry.
When his wife, Miranda (Sally Field), files for a divorce and gets custody of the kids, loving-but-eccentric dad Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is devastated. Regular visits with his three children aren't enough, so when he hears that Miranda is looking for a nanny/housekeeper, he gets his make-up artist brother (Harvey Fierstein) to transform him into a matronly old woman. Posing as the veddy proper Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire, Daniel gets the position and quickly wins over the kids. But his double-life ruse gets complicated when Miranda starts dating the dashing, debonair Stu (Pierce Brosnan).
Mrs. Doubtfireis one of those great movies that grow better over time. Director Chris Columbus uses the hilarious Robin Williams to his fullest. Williams clowns around, talks a mile a minute, drops pop culture references, and does vocal impersonations that might have little to do with the story but that leaven what would otherwise be too painful and poignant for some kids.
What raises Mrs. Doubtfire above other movies about separation is the care it takes in dealing with real human problems. Though it provides a basis for a comedy, the issue of divorce and custody is treated seriously. Irresponsible Daniel grows from the experience of looking at the world from a woman's point of view.
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