reviewed by Mike Crowl
In this comedy, Daniel, (Robin Williams), an actor, and the irresponsible father of three, precipitates a crisis in his household by overcelebrating his son's birthday. His wife (Sally Field) uses the event to insist on a divorce, with the result that Daniel loses virtually all contact with his children. In the guise of a buxom lady, Mrs Doubtfire, he becomes "nanny" to his own household. Until his cover is blown, he's very successful in the disguise.
That's a very slim outline. This comedy has antecedents in plays and films of the Charley's Aunt variety, but Mrs Doubtfire also wants to make a statement about modern family relationships. In doing so it goes off at an odd angle and leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Whatever revisionist scriptwriters may think, comedies should end satisfactorily - all round. This one resolves only one of its conflicts: Daniel's desire to be with his children. He insists throughout the film that he can't live without them. The other conflict, between Daniel and his wife, is skewered off and left dangling.
As Mrs Doubtfire, Daniel's in the unique position of learning directly from his wife the good things she thinks about him, but has never said. He's also able to get his own view across - without heat - particularly in relation to a man from the past who turns up to complicate the wife's life. As Mrs Doubtfire, he becomes a parent who maintains discipline and insists his children do their homework. He counsels his wife, and keeps house in the best female-Jeeves style.
But when he finally becomes himself again, he reverts to being a child with his children while his wife carries on pursuing her career till seven each night. Yet Daniel obviously has adulthood in him. What have all the ironic "woman" to woman discussions achieved if he's only to be sent back to play with the kids?
Almost at the end of the film, Mrs Doubtfire, (who has now found her niche on syndicated children's television), gives a little homily about there being "all sorts of families." As long as there is love, it doesn't matter how families live, whether they be split up or together, with children fostered, or scattered to the four winds. Regrettably, the all-wise Mrs Doubtfire has no similar "words of wisdom" for men who struggle to mature, or couples who struggle to live together.
copyright 1997 Mike Crowl
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