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The partners of Fathers' Day take to medicine for these two
treatments of the individual up against might: Hunter "Patch" Adams (Robin
Williams) versus bureaucracy, and Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal) versus the
Mafia.
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Bit 2
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But while Patch Adams, despite Williams's clowning and a
director (Tom Shadyac) best known for Ace Ventura, Pet Detective
and the Eddie Murphy remake of The Nutty Professor, has a
dramatic purpose, Analyze This uses its theme for comedy.
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Bit 3
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In 1969, depression sends Hunter Adams to a psychiatric ward, where he
must share a room with the pitiful Rudy (Michael Jeter, who appeared with
Williams in The Fisher King). Among the other patients is Arthur
Mendleson (Harold Gould), later to be of help to Adams. Adams's
anti-establishment ideas first cause trouble when he rouses fellow
patients to levity during a group therapy session. He next finds
conventional therapy has failed Rudy, who suffers from the torments of
invisible squirrels. Adams's play-acting encourages him to conquer his
fears, and the success of laughter and play makes him want to help people
though studying medicine.
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Bit 4
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After this promising start, with the high spot of Jeter's performance, the
picture starts to slow down and becomes more like a Penny Marshall film.
When Adams enters med school two years later, his intent to "get down to
the same level" as patients and ancillary staff makes an enemy of Dean
Walcott (Bob Gunton). With classmates, Adams sets up a free clinic on
property owned by old friend Mendleson. However, operating the clinic
leads to dramatic developments. The barrier separating Adams from Carin
(Monica Potter), the classmate he adores, dissolves after she hints at a
background of abuse; but their happiness is short-lived due to the
intervention of a clinic patient. Next, Adams must appear before a
Medical Board to defend himself against Walcott's charge of practising
medicine without a licence.
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Bit 5
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Though sentimental, Patch Adams would very likely have impact
beyond that quality for viewers with some connection with the seriously
ill. A plus for all film fans is its setting during the psychedelic era,
allowing for an entertaining costume progression as Adams's clothes get
increasingly loud and informal, as well as a reference to the popular 1972
film, Butterflies Are Free.
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Analyze This also has a reference to a 1972 film, but, in keeping
with its comedy aims, its replication of a scene from The
Godfather turns out to be fantasy. In a Harold Ramis film, an
homage to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
should also be no surprise. The surprise is in the twist of the comedy
premise: a made man comes undone.
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Bit 7
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But both patient and doctor are two worried men at the start of Analyze
This. Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro) is suffering from anxiety
following the drive-by shooting of a friend, shortly before a scheduled
national conference of mob leaders. Psychiatrist Dr. Ben Sobel (Billy
Crystal) is also stressed-out, by his practice and by the attitudes of his
son and both sets of parents to his approaching wedding to Laura (Lisa
Kudrow). Their paths cross after Sobel bumps into the car of Vitti's
henchman Jelly (Joe Viterelli).
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Bit 8
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Jelly brings Sobel his new patient, Vitti, who thinks the doctor is a
genius and the only one who can solve his problems. As Vitti is not
accustomed to taking no for an answer, Sobel finds he's married to the
mob, on call 24 hours a day as Jelly materialises to tell him he's wanted
by the boss. A lot of the comedy comes from Vitti's responses to therapy
(he disposes of the Oedipus complex with "Have you ever seen my
mother?"), as well as from the sight of De Niro contradicting his
tough-guy image (e.g., sobbing at a father-and-son life insurance
commercial on TV).
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Bit 9
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Billy Crystal's star turn comes when he has to act as Vitti's
consigliere and take his place at the mob conference. Offered
Vitti's too-large, gleaming silk suit to wear, he cries, "What is this,
chrome? I can see my face in it!" before going into his Jerry Lewis
routine to improvise a speech to the suspicious gangsters.
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Bit 10
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But, as psychiatrists never go out in a blaze of glory, this doctor's
troubles are resolved, just as those of Patch Adams are. Your choice of
movie will probably depend on your earnestness threshold.
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Bit 11
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Details
Patch Adams, by Universal 1998.
Director: Tom Shadyac.
Screenplay: Steve Oedekerk.
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael.
Production Design: Linda DeScenna
Costume Design: Judy Ruskin-Howell.
Cast: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Bob Gunton, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Analyze This, by Village Roadshow 1998.
Director: Harold Ramis.
Screenplay: Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis, and Ken Lonergan.
Cinematography: Stewart Dryburgh.
Production Design: Wynn Thomas.
Costume Design: Aude Bronson-Howard.
Cast: Robert DeNiro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Chazz Palminteri.
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Citation reference for this article
MLA style:
Shane Lewis. "Doctors in Trouble: 'Patch Adams'/'Analyze This'." M/C Reviews 29 Mar. 99.
[your date of access] <http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/doctors.html>.
Chicago style:
Shane Lewis, "Doctors in Trouble: 'Patch Adams'/'Analyze This'," M/C Reviews 29 Mar. 99,
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/doctors.html> ([your date of access]).
APA style:
Shane Lewis. (1999) Doctors in trouble: 'Patch Adams'/'Analyze this'. M/C Reviews 29 Mar. 99.
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/doctors.html> ([your date of access]).
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