Main Cast: Robin Williams, Daniel London, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
The fact-based story of an unconventional physician who attempted to heal patients with laughter, based on his own book and mixing equal doses of scatological humor and pathos. Robin Williams stars as Hunter Adams, a troubled young man who commits himself to a mental institution in the late 1960s. His experiences there convince Adams to become a doctor, and he enrolls in medical school, where he is appalled at the cold, clinical professionalism that alienates patients from their caregivers. Determined to provide emotional and spiritual relief as well as medicine, Adams clowns around for his patients, getting to know them personally. Although his efforts seem to work wonders and the hospital nursing staff is grateful for the levity Adams provides, his methods alienate his uptight roommate Mitch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) as well as the staff and faculty of his school. Adams perseveres, however, even starting his own low-cost rural clinic called the Gesundheit Institute, and wooing a pretty fellow student, Carin (Monica Potter). Tragedy strikes, and Adams' career is put in jeopardy, forcing him to defend his style and philosophy before a board of jurists determined to bar him from practicing medicine. Patch Adams (1998) was produced by former M*A*S*H (1972-83) star Mike Farrell, who met the real-life Adams when the offbeat doctor served as an advisor to the actor's popular TV series. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
After playing the funny-yet-sympathetic doctor in Awakenings, the funny-yet-sympathetic teacher in Dead Poets Society, and then the funny-yet-sympathetic disc jockey in Good Morning, Vietnam, Robin Williams finally goes back to his roots as the funny-yet-sympathetic doctor in this story of a medical student who reminds us that "laughter is always the best medicine." Comedy director Tom Shadyac's true story of a man named Patch Adams -- who was responsible for introducing the initial concept of endorphins in the brain -- is told with all the Universal Studios panache, trying to appease all filmgoing audiences. Patch's philosophy of "treating the patient, not the disease" creates both allies and foes at the University of Virginia medical hospital. His roommate, Mitch (Boogie Nights' Philip Seymour Hoffman), sees Patch as a goofball, until his own problem with a stubborn patient forces him to utilize Patch's methods. However, the university dean is Patch's harshest critic, eventually dismissing Patch from the hospital. As Patch himself overcomes serious depression, he eventually opens his own clinic where he gains notoriety as the "people doctor." He then writes a book, which is ultimately turned into a Hollywood movie starring Robin Williams. You get the idea. ~ Chris Gore, All Movie Guide
Jim Nedza - Art Director, Alan B. Curtiss - Associate Producer, Allegra Clegg - Associate Producer, Steve Oedekerk - Co-producer, Devorah Moos-Hanklin - Co-producer, Judy Ruskin-Howell - Costume Designer, Alan B. Curtiss - First Assistant Director, Tom Shadyac - Director, Don Zimmerman - Editor, Tom Shadyac - Executive Producer, Marsha Garces Williams - Executive Producer, Marsha Garces Willams - Executive Producer, Marc Shaiman - Composer (Music Score), Hallie D'Amore - Makeup, Linda de Scenna - Production Designer, Phedon Papamichael - Cinematographer, Mike Farrell - Producer, Marvin Minoff - Producer, Charles James Newirth - Producer, Barry Kemp - Producer, Nelson Stoll - Sound/Sound Designer, David M. Blitstein - Special Effects Supervisor, Steve Oedekerk - Screenwriter, Hunter Doherty Adams - Book Author, Maureen Mylander - Book Author
Patch Adams is a 1998comedy-dramafilm directed by Tom Shadyac and based on the true life story of Hunter "Patch" Adams and the book Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter by Adams and Maureen Mylander. The film is generally considered a box-office success, grossing over twice its budget in the United States alone. It was poorly received by most critics.[1]
The film tells the story of Hunter "Patch" Adams (portrayed by Robin Williams), a medical doctor who became famous for his unconventional approach to medicine. After a suicide attempt, Adams seeks psychiatric help and is institutionalized. During this time he is inspired to become a medical doctor, and discovers that he is able to forget his own problems by helping others. Two years later, he enrolls at Virginia Medical University (a fictitious school shot at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus) and he is the oldest first year student. He questions the school's approach to medical care, and clashes with the school's Dean Walcott (played by Bob Gunton) because of his belief in the necessity of personal interaction with patients. Because of this and other incidents, including a prank during a medical conference, he is dismissed from the school, although he is later reinstated.
Adams develops a relationship with a fellow student, Carin Fisher (played by Monica Potter), and develops his idea for a medical clinic built around his philosophy of doctor-patient interaction. With the help of Arthur Mendelson (Harold Gould), a wealthy man who was a patient whom Patch met while in the mental hospital, he purchases 105 acres (425,000 m²) in West Virginia to construct the future Gesundheit Institute. Together with Carin, Truman Schiff (another medical student, played by Daniel London), and some old friends, he renovates an old cottage. When they get the clinic running, they treat walk-in patients without medical insurance, Patch commonly doing minor comedy sketches such as wearing thick glasses and pretending to be near-sighted. Carin is fascinated by Patch's talent and their friendship turns into deep love. More encouraged than ever by Patch and his spirit, Carin wants to help a psychologically disturbed patient, Lawrence "Larry" Silver (Douglas Roberts), by visiting him at home. Larry turns out to be far more disturbed than anybody had expected, and he murders her, turning the shotgun on himself soon after.
Patch is devastated and guilt-ridden by Carin's death, reconsiders his outlook, and questions the goodness of humanity. However, despite almost committing suicide, he is able to recover and carry on his work.
Dismissed from the school for a second time because he ran a clinic and practiced medicine without a license, he files a grievance with the state medical board at the advice of his former med school roommate, Mitch Roman (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and must attend a hearing where it is decided whether he can graduate. Patch is able to convince the jury in a final speech that he did his best to help the people that came to him, stating that treating a disease of the body is a win-or-lose situation, but treating a person's spirit guarantees a win regardless of the outcome, even when it is death. He encourages medical students to cultivate relationships with nurses and learn their interviewing skills early, and argues that death should be treated with dignity and even humor. In the end the jury accepts Patch's medical methods and does not prevent him from graduating. He receives a standing ovation from the packed hearing room.
Even at graduation, Patch cannot help but be a non-conformist. After he is handed his diploma, the dean of the school states, "Well, I see you've finally decided to conform". Patch responds, "More than you know", and bows to the professors, revealing his nude bottom under his gown.
The review aggregator Metacritic reported that the film averaged a rating of 25% at metacritic.[2] Critic Roger Ebert reported that the real Patch Adams said the he thought it was a "loathesome film".[3]
Box office performance
The film was released December 25, 1998 in the United States and Canada and grossed $25.2 million in 2,712 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #1 at the box office. After its first weekend, it was the #2 film for 4 weeks.[4]
The film grossed US$202,292,902 worldwide — $135,026,902 in the United States and Canada and $67,266,000 in other territories.[5]
The Film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor (Robin Williams) Golden Globe awards in the Musical or Comedy categories.
Poem
Throughout the movie Patch recites Pablo Neruda's Sonnet XVII to Carin. He finishes the last two stanzas at her gravesite.
References in film and television
A poster for the film is on the wall of a young teenager character's room in About a Boy.
In episode 407 ("Ugly") of the TV series House, Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) sarcastically says that the reason he became a doctor was due to the film Patch Adams.
The Futurama episode "Bendin' in the Wind" briefly features a robot named "Patchcord Adams", who acts and sounds like Williams as Patch.
The Wrong Coast episode "Blood Red Carpet" did a parody sketch of the film, called "Flatch Adams", in which the main character's issue with fitting in revolves around his problem with flatulence.
