"Mrs. Doubtfire: Behind-the-Seams Edition"
Franck Tabouring
Seen on: March 7, 2008
Edition: Behind-the-Seams Edition
The players: Director: Chris Columbus, Writers: Randi Singer, Leslie Dixon, Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Polly Holliday
Facts of interest: If you ever travel to San Francisco, pay a visit to the Hillard's house on the east side of the 2600 block of Steiner Street (corner of Broadway).
The plot: An eccentric actor (Williams) dresses up as an old lady and poses as a housekeeper to spend more time with his kids.
Our quick thoughts: Whether you watch it as a kid or an adult, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is always a delicious pleasure. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film stars Robin Williams as an eccentric actor who disguises himself as an old lady to spend more time with his kids. 20th Century Fox recently released a new DVD edition of the wildly popular family comedy, offering fans a variety of special features about the production of the film, including photo galleries, screen tests, interviews and a look back at what transformed “Mrs. Doubtfire” into a timeless success.
From a thematic point of view, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a heartwarming family comedy that focuses on the consequences of an unfriendly divorce, carefully examining how hard it is for younger children to cope with the separation from a parent. Thanks to a brilliant performance by Robin Williams, who fully utilizes his improvisation skills and plays his challenging role with tons of wit and enthusiasm, the film provokes tons of laughs and perfectly succeeds in keeping the plot operating at a fast pace.
The new “Behind-the-Seams Edition” includes more than two hours of exciting bonus material, including “From Man to Mrs. – The Evolutions of Mrs. Doubtfire,” a compelling 26-minute making-of with cast and crew interviews. Besides a short piece on Williams’ make-up entitled “Makeup Application,” the second disc also includes “The Improvisation of Mrs. Doubtfire,” a hilarious 36-minute set of Williams’ countless improvisations.
Overall, 20th Century Fox provides a solid edition with insightful never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews recorded exclusively for this updated release. Picture and audio transfers are top-notch, and the packaging looks simple but neat. The only thing missing on this DVD is Chris Columbus’ excellent commentary from the previous edition. I’m still wondering why they chose not to include it this time.
Freaky quote: "Could you make me a woman?" - Robin Williams
The final word: Owning “Mrs. Doubtfire” on DVD is a definite must for all hardcore Robin Williams fans. I can’t imagine anyone getting tired of watching Robin Williams star in what may after all be one of his best performances to date.
Reader Comments (2)
Yeh and his co-star - Pierce Brosnan - appears to have a secret half-sister, homeless no less, living in Los Angeles - wonder why he hasn't stepped forward to either prove or disprove her claims??
While I only own the original edition of the DVD, I can certainly vouch for the reviewer's comments on the film itself. I don't believe anyone could have played this role better than Robin Williams. While this movie is one of the funniest I've ever seen, it also takes it's subject, divorce, very seriously. In some movies, the transition from comedy to drama can be quite jarring. Here, however, it is absolutely seamless. In short, I love this movie.