Patch Adams Movie Review 1998

Maverick medical student Hunter "Patch" Adams (Williams) takes the expression "laughter is the best medicine" literally and treats terminally ill patients with slapstick routines. Naturally, his stodgy old boss, not to mention the rest of the medical establishment, frown on his antics and prefer more conventional treatments (like medicine). But Patch thumbs his nose at The Man and tries to defend his unorthodox ways to fellow students, including the requisite love interest (Carter). Director Shadyac and screenwriter Oedekerk seem to let Williams unleash his rapid-fire wackiness without much direction. Ultimately, flick is brought down by sappy melodrama and emotional manipulation under the guise of sincere emotion.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 115 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Doctors & Nurses, Hospitals & Medicine, Lovable Loonies, Rebel With a Cause

Screenplay

Steve Oedekerk

Cast

Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Monica Potter, Bob Gunton, Josef Sommer, Irma P. Hall, Daniel London, Frances Lee McCain, Harve Presnell, Peter Coyote, Michael Jeter, Harold Gould, Richard Kiley

Cinematography

Phedon Papamichael

Director

Tom Shadyac

Music

Marc Shaiman

Producer

Barry Kemp, Michael Farrell, Marvin Minoff, Charles Newirth, Marsha Garces Williams, Tom Shadyac, Blue Wolf Productions, Universal Pictures