Flashback Friday

Mrs. Doubtfire – 1993

“Oh, sir. I saw it! Some angry member of the kitchen staff, Did you not tip them? Oh, the terrorists! They ran that way. It was a run-by fruiting. I’ll get them, sir. Don’t worry.”

Mrs. Doubtfire

For this weeks flashback, since I featured an 80’s movie last week I thought that I would flashback to the 90’s with this classic.

Daniel Hillard is devastated when his wife, Miranda files for a divorce and gets custody of the kids. 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 to transform him into a british old woman. Posing as the nanny, Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire. Daniel gets the position and quickly wins over the kids and hilarity ensues.

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The late great Robin Williams was at the top of his game in the 90’s and this movie is a fierce example why. He gave us a hilarious and some what serious look at what a devoted father would go through for his children and as children he gave us that nanny that we always wanted and dreamed of. Along with the comedic genius of Harvey Fierstein, the classic Sally Field, and the charming Pierce Brosnan before James Bond turned him into a household name Williams brings us his most zany character.

A lot of people don’t know it but this movie was actually a book first. Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine.

As funny as Mrs. Doubtfire 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. Williams clowns around, talks a mile a minute, and drops all kinds of pop culture references. 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.

It want you want a heartwarming story and comedy gold. This is the one. P.s. try my new movie quiz. I’ll update the page regularly with new quizzes!