# How did you like the old movie Patch Adams (1998)? We finally watched it, for the first time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, celebrity-death\ **Created:** [March 14, 2021, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870 "2021-03-14T06:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/1 "2021-03-14T06:25:32Z")
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} ---
**Author:** ![smilingbandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@smilingbandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smilingbandit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/2 "2021-03-14T06:29:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/3 "2021-03-14T13:05:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/4 "2021-03-14T13:34:37Z")
I agree. A hastily made Patch-work of a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/5 "2021-03-14T13:43:57Z")
@smilingbandit said everything I thought at the time and think now. Love Robin Williams. Poorly made movie. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/6 "2021-03-14T15:12:27Z")
Well that shows how much of a romantic I am, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/7 "2021-03-14T15:27:45Z")
Too maudlin. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/8 "2021-03-14T15:40:40Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > 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 whole-heartedly agree. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/9 "2021-03-14T15:53:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/10 "2021-03-14T22:37:32Z")
I totally hate this film, it would be the perfect way to torture me should I ever become a prisoner of war. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/11 "2021-03-15T00:41:35Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/12 "2021-03-15T01:47:30Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I totally hate this film, it would be the perfect way to torture me should I ever become a prisoner of war. 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 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/13 "2021-03-15T01:56:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/14 "2021-03-15T05:41:08Z")
But with Hollywood’s fetish for “Here’s a good movie, let’s do a totally crappy remake”, it’s worth indicating somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/15 "2021-03-15T05:51:34Z")
My take on it was: Nice soundtrack - one of the best ever - but really, really, dumb movie. Not at all heartwarming or feel-good. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/16 "2021-03-15T08:51:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/17 "2021-03-15T10:26:38Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > 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. Big ol’ upvote-- albeit, _On the Waterfront_ is more like middle-aged. _Metropolis_ is old. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I should add that few are less of a Robin Williams fan than me. Maybe me. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/18 "2021-03-15T13:16:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/19 "2021-03-15T13:19:45Z")
Kinda near the bottom of Robin Williams’ impressive resume in the Nineties. Subconsciously, I keep wanting to credit Howie Mandel with the title role. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870/20 "2021-03-15T14:02:10Z")
I watched a bit of it when it first came out but had to stop for fear of lapsing into a diabetic coma. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-like-the-old-movie-patch-adams-1998-we-finally-watched-it-for-the-first-time/937870.md?page=2)