I’ve been curious how feelings about a movie like Mrs. Doubtfire would evolve over time. Do you mind elaborating on what you find sad and revolting?
Also, have you always felt this way/this strongly about the movie or did your emotions change as there was more public awareness of how marginalized people are in society?
These are sincere questions, I genuinely want to know your thoughts and feelings. Also, totally acceptable answer if you’ve just always hated the movie or even dislike Robin Williams; I realize my previous questioning has a lot of bias.
To be fair, the premise of the movie is kinda fucked up. He could have disguised as another man and it would still be pretty creepy to think about if done in real life.
Ok, so devil’s advocate here. What Robin’s character, Daniel, does in the movie is rash, immature and a bit creepy. But that is the point. He is rash and immature at the beginning of the film. It’s why they get divorced in the first place. He’s a manchild and would rather be the fun dad than a responsible dad and makes his wife have to compensate for him and be the full time disciplinarian, maid, and bread winner. What redeems him is the growth he shows by the end. In pretending to be Mrs. Doubtfire, he becomes a more mature, responsible adult. Not just with how he interacts with the kids, but also in caring for his apartment, doing a job even when it sucks, advancing his career, etc. Obviously he doesn’t mature to the point that he reveals his deceit and apologizes for it of his own volition. But he does end up in a place where he and Miranda can amicably co-parent even as they remain separated, which is a long way from where they started.
And, in regard to the creepiness, let’s acknowledge that it could easily have been much worse. For example, he doesn’t creep on, hit on, or do anything sexually untoward to his ex-wife, Miranda, after their divorce, something I would not have been shocked to see in an early 90s comedy movie. I know that’s not a high bar, but let’s be real about the common brand of humor from films of the time. His primary crimes are, of course, misrepresentating/disguising his identity to fraudulently get a job nannying his kids, sabotaging Miranda’s ad in order to get that job, and being real low-key petty towards the new boyfriend and mildly tormenting him (the incident with the near chocking was not cool, but clearly accidental.) I personally don’t find those things, in the context of a comedy film, to be so heinous as to render the movie disgusting, appalling or without the ability to enjoy the humor. But that’s me. To each their own.
Yeah, but he is also very drunk and uninhibited by that point because his boss keeps pushing scotches on him. He also goes to save his life without hesitation too. So not great, but again, could have been much worse.
Edit: I just thought about it and, if I remember correctly, he is not present when Stu orders and says he’s very allergic. They decide to order while waiting for Mrs. Doubtfire who had been “in the bathroom” for a long time. So he didn’t know Stu was allergic. Daniel just hears the cook call out the “non-spicy” dish for their table in the kitchen and then adds cayenne to it to fuck with him. Petty for sure, but he didn’t intend to seriously hurt the guy.
A lot of our pre-2015-ish rom-coms and dramas are highly problematic. There are some movies I used to love and quote which now make me cringe when I think back on it. I try not to think about how horrible I was back then and instead focus on being better.
Lord knows I had my moments of thinking women owed me something for my mere interests and efforts. Those memories keep me up at night.
when i was younger i glossed over the situation and focused on the funny. as i got older better understood the circumstances and the more i came to hate this movie. its not really williams thats the problem its the entire premise/script of the manchild fucking over many peoples lives because he himself is just a terrible human being.
i cannot find doubtfire funny in any capacity. its sad, revolting.
I’ve been curious how feelings about a movie like Mrs. Doubtfire would evolve over time. Do you mind elaborating on what you find sad and revolting?
Also, have you always felt this way/this strongly about the movie or did your emotions change as there was more public awareness of how marginalized people are in society?
These are sincere questions, I genuinely want to know your thoughts and feelings. Also, totally acceptable answer if you’ve just always hated the movie or even dislike Robin Williams; I realize my previous questioning has a lot of bias.
To be fair, the premise of the movie is kinda fucked up. He could have disguised as another man and it would still be pretty creepy to think about if done in real life.
Ok, so devil’s advocate here. What Robin’s character, Daniel, does in the movie is rash, immature and a bit creepy. But that is the point. He is rash and immature at the beginning of the film. It’s why they get divorced in the first place. He’s a manchild and would rather be the fun dad than a responsible dad and makes his wife have to compensate for him and be the full time disciplinarian, maid, and bread winner. What redeems him is the growth he shows by the end. In pretending to be Mrs. Doubtfire, he becomes a more mature, responsible adult. Not just with how he interacts with the kids, but also in caring for his apartment, doing a job even when it sucks, advancing his career, etc. Obviously he doesn’t mature to the point that he reveals his deceit and apologizes for it of his own volition. But he does end up in a place where he and Miranda can amicably co-parent even as they remain separated, which is a long way from where they started.
And, in regard to the creepiness, let’s acknowledge that it could easily have been much worse. For example, he doesn’t creep on, hit on, or do anything sexually untoward to his ex-wife, Miranda, after their divorce, something I would not have been shocked to see in an early 90s comedy movie. I know that’s not a high bar, but let’s be real about the common brand of humor from films of the time. His primary crimes are, of course, misrepresentating/disguising his identity to fraudulently get a job nannying his kids, sabotaging Miranda’s ad in order to get that job, and being real low-key petty towards the new boyfriend and mildly tormenting him (the incident with the near chocking was not cool, but clearly accidental.) I personally don’t find those things, in the context of a comedy film, to be so heinous as to render the movie disgusting, appalling or without the ability to enjoy the humor. But that’s me. To each their own.
He does dose Stu’s food with cayenne knowing he has a pepper allergy. That’s straight up assault.
Yeah, but he is also very drunk and uninhibited by that point because his boss keeps pushing scotches on him. He also goes to save his life without hesitation too. So not great, but again, could have been much worse.
Edit: I just thought about it and, if I remember correctly, he is not present when Stu orders and says he’s very allergic. They decide to order while waiting for Mrs. Doubtfire who had been “in the bathroom” for a long time. So he didn’t know Stu was allergic. Daniel just hears the cook call out the “non-spicy” dish for their table in the kitchen and then adds cayenne to it to fuck with him. Petty for sure, but he didn’t intend to seriously hurt the guy.
A lot of our pre-2015-ish rom-coms and dramas are highly problematic. There are some movies I used to love and quote which now make me cringe when I think back on it. I try not to think about how horrible I was back then and instead focus on being better.
Lord knows I had my moments of thinking women owed me something for my mere interests and efforts. Those memories keep me up at night.
when i was younger i glossed over the situation and focused on the funny. as i got older better understood the circumstances and the more i came to hate this movie. its not really williams thats the problem its the entire premise/script of the manchild fucking over many peoples lives because he himself is just a terrible human being.