We finally watched it, 23 years after it first came out. My wife and I really enjoyed it, me more than she. But I’m more of a romantic than she is. I found it very touching. How did you like it?
And…
…boy, oh boy do I miss Robin Williams. {sob; sniff}
Robin Williams almost manages to save that movie. Unfortunately, it’s a tedious collection of saccharine nonsense that actually demonstrates the titular character is completely unsuited to the medical profession. It has nothing in it except overused tropes implemented poorly.
The actual Dr. Adams is a much better person, and far more interesting human being, than the movie depicts.
No, no, no. The Wizard of Oz is an old movie. Casablanca is an old movie. On the Waterfront is an old movie. Patch Adams was the day before yesterday.
I agree. A hastily made Patch-work of a movie.
@smilingbandit said everything I thought at the time and think now.
Love Robin Williams. Poorly made movie.
Well that shows how much of a romantic I am, I guess.
Too maudlin.
I whole-heartedly agree.
I haven’t seen the film since it came out, but my recollection is similar to what others have posted: Williams was very good in it (as he usually was), but the film itself was predictable and maudlin.
I totally hate this film, it would be the perfect way to torture me should I ever become a prisoner of war.
I still remember one panel from the Mad Magazine spoof (titled “Putz Adams”), depicting the “pool of noodles” scene:
FIRST DOCTOR: How does Putz Adams pay for all this stuff, anyway?
SECOND DOCTOR: Insurance! Strangely enough, most health insurance policies cover plastic pools filled with noodles! Go figure!
Yes, this here. One of the biggest wastes of time in my moviegoing career.
I should add that few are less of a Robin Williams fan than me.
mmm
I seem to remember liking it way back when I originally saw it (IIRC, in a theater, where I was watching non-critically and wanting to enjoy it). But I don’t think @smilingbandit’s assessment is wrong.
But with Hollywood’s fetish for “Here’s a good movie, let’s do a totally crappy remake”, it’s worth indicating somehow.
My take on it was: Nice soundtrack - one of the best ever - but really, really, dumb movie. Not at all heartwarming or feel-good.
I’ve always found Patch Adams to be two movies in one. The first is a comedy story about the offbeat physician pissing off the hospital administrator, while bringing joy to the children in the hospital. The second is a drama about an disturbed adult patient who snaps one day.
Either, filled out, would have made a good film. But joined together, they don’t really work.
Robin Williams always struck me as somebody who should do comedy throughout a film (Moscow on the Hudson, RV), or drama throughout a film (Awakenings), but not films where his comedic style is presented in the first part, but the second discards that in favour of a more dramatic style. Good Morning Vietnam is another example of this “comedy first, drama next” style.
Big ol’ upvote-- albeit, On the Waterfront is more like middle-aged. Metropolis is old.
Maybe me.
Any time I saw Robin Williams acting, I saw Robin Williams acting. That was okay in comedies, but not much okay in dramas or dramedies. I watched about half of Patch Adams some time ago when I think HBO had it, but wasn’t able to finish it.
Kinda near the bottom of Robin Williams’ impressive resume in the Nineties. Subconsciously, I keep wanting to credit Howie Mandel with the title role.
I watched a bit of it when it first came out but had to stop for fear of lapsing into a diabetic coma.