Mrs. Doubtfire

1993 Comedy

Robin Williams learns that keeping in touch with his children can be a drag in this hit comedy. Daniel Hillard (Williams) is an eccentric actor who specializes in dubbing voices for cartoon characters. Daniel is a kind man and a loving father, but he's a poor disciplinarian and a shaky role model. After throwing an elaborate and disastrous birthday party for his son, Daniel's wife Miranda (Sally Field) reaches the end of her patience and files for divorce. Daniel is heartbroken when Miranda is given custody of the children, and he's only allowed to visit them once a week. Determined to stay in contact with his kids, Daniel learns that Miranda is looking for a housekeeper, and with help from his brother Frank (Harvey Fierstein), a makeup artist, Daniel gets the job disguised as Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire, a stern but caring Scottish nanny. Daniel pulls off the ruse so well that neither his ex-wife nor his children recognize him, and in the process, he learns how to be the good parent he should have been all along. However, Daniel also has to deal with the little matter of Miranda's new boyfriend, Stu (Pierce Brosnan). more..

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Robin Williams,Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Polly Holliday

Reviews

  • Director Chris Columbus shrewdly brings together many of the same selling points as in his "Home Alone" movies, mixing broad comedic strokes with heavy-handed messages about the magical power of family.

    Brian Lowry - Variety

    26 April 2013

  • And you will laugh till your ribs ache -- not because director Chris Columbus of the "Home Alone" movies has a gift for farce, which he does, but because Williams is to funny what the Energizer Bunny is to batteries. He keeps going and going and going.

    Rita Kempley - The Washington Post

    26 April 2013

  • Although the broad comedy of the first half soon gives way to a tidal wave of entirely uncalled for sentimentality, this is still a laugh riot - the sight of our hero setting fire to his falsies never fails to amuse.

    Caroline Westbrook - Empire

    26 April 2013

  • Williams gives an inspired comic performance. Unfortunately, he outclasses the movie, which is basically a patchwork rip-off of Tootsie.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

  • But the film is not as amusing as the premise, and there were long stretches when I'd had quite enough of Mrs. Doubtfire.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1994)

  • Best Makeup

    Academy Awards (1994)

  • Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)

    American Comedy Awards (1994)

  • Best Make Up/Hair

    BAFTA Awards (1995)

     
  • Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy

    Casting Society of America (1994)