280 reviews
For about three quarters of its (too long) running time, "Dr. T & The Women" feels aimless, featherweight, and uncompelling; in the last quarter it starts building a sense of comic chaos, and when that chaos grows to cosmic-joke proportions, the film finally becomes offbeat and interesting. The entire cast is attractive and likable; Shelley Long (with her eavesdropping and massage scenes) is its funniest member. **1/2 out of 4.
- gridoon2024
- Jan 1, 2020
- Permalink
A fine cast of actors and an interesting story does not always provide a good film. Where did it go wrong? The main characters were amply explored for a comedy; the elements were there for an intrigue sur plus; the pretty people were there for a light romance that would make the coldest heart melt; if one were murdered it could have been a real crime flick. But it just did not happen. The acting is good. The story keeps you going. It might even tear you up, if you are willing. The comedy works at several instances. The drama will question you on human relations. But in the end it comes up short on all cinematographic fields it tries to explore. Bummer! There's a good film hiding in there somewhere.
It's really a shame that such an all-star cast (Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, etc.) was wasted in this movie. It was muddled and plodding all the way through. I take it that the idea of a gynecologist whose life gets turned upside down by the various women in his life is supposed to be funny? If so, this failed miserably. There were a few chuckles in it, but fundamentally the problem was that this movie just plain lacked any consistent storyline. I found Richard Gere's character (Dr. Travis) entirely unsympathetic. Yeah, his wife was sick, and he must have been lonely, so he betrays his sick wife to fall into bed with Bree Davis (Helen Hunt). I just didn't like the guy from that point on, and found myself desperately rooting for the tornado at the end of the movie! In fact, none of the characters in this movie were particularly likeable.
The long and short of it is that I didn't care much for this effort. The idea had potential but just wasn't well thought out. I'll give it a 4/10, but reluctantly and while holding my nose.
The long and short of it is that I didn't care much for this effort. The idea had potential but just wasn't well thought out. I'll give it a 4/10, but reluctantly and while holding my nose.
Like much of Robert Altman's work, this is a hit and miss movie, but worth seeing for some good performances, several genuinely funny scenes, and some of the master's typical ensemble sequences with all hell breaking loose while everybody talks at once! It is probably unhelpful to approach it as though it was a full-blooded satire on wealthy Texas women. For a start, the target is too easy - like the floating and walking birds Dr T and his buddies seem to think it's fair to shoot at - and in any case the focus of the film is not the Women of the title, but Dr T.
Richard Gere gives a typically charming and understated, performance as Dr T (for Travis), who is surrounded by women whom he likes and respects in private life, and cares for in his professional life as a gynecologist, but no more understands than most men. Farrah Fawcett gives a touching portrayal as his wife, who retreats into childhood to escape his smothering affection. Helen Hunt, as an independently-minded, intelligent golf pro, provides a refreshing change - both for Dr T and the audience - from the empty-headed shopaholics who people much of the movie. Laura Dern, Kate Hudson and Shelley Long sparkle as, respectively, Dr T's sister-in-law, daughter and receptionist. (As we might expect from Altman, the city of Dallas also plays a leading role; and the best casting is definitely that of Eric Ryan as the "birth baby"; Eric enters the IMDb actors data base at the tender age of zero!)
This is a long way from the vintage Altman of Mash, Nashville and The Player; but is still richer than most Hollywood fare.
Richard Gere gives a typically charming and understated, performance as Dr T (for Travis), who is surrounded by women whom he likes and respects in private life, and cares for in his professional life as a gynecologist, but no more understands than most men. Farrah Fawcett gives a touching portrayal as his wife, who retreats into childhood to escape his smothering affection. Helen Hunt, as an independently-minded, intelligent golf pro, provides a refreshing change - both for Dr T and the audience - from the empty-headed shopaholics who people much of the movie. Laura Dern, Kate Hudson and Shelley Long sparkle as, respectively, Dr T's sister-in-law, daughter and receptionist. (As we might expect from Altman, the city of Dallas also plays a leading role; and the best casting is definitely that of Eric Ryan as the "birth baby"; Eric enters the IMDb actors data base at the tender age of zero!)
This is a long way from the vintage Altman of Mash, Nashville and The Player; but is still richer than most Hollywood fare.
This is only the second time I've been irritated enough to write a review, the other was "Trixie."
First of all, I'm a fan of "The Player" and of "Short Cuts," among other Altman movies. So when I was at first annoyed and angered by the beginning of this movie, I passed it off to his soon-to-come deeper agenda, which in "Dr. T..." never arrives.
I loathe this movie. Let me count the ways:
1. (Most importantly) We are led to empathize with a man who believes he loves too much, too hard, and hence, the consequences. This, if played out, would be great, as he gets his come-uppance, realizes the self-delusion and that his life and ways with women is a lie. But that's not what happens. We are supposed to feel sorry for and sympathize with him the entire way, even as he cheats, avoids true responsibility and, despite what the ending is supposed to say, never changes. Rather than the boy-birth being a sign of evolution/change/enlightenment, it debunks all that came before, in fact saying that all these women were the problem all along. Instead of being a witty examination of flawed Dallas women, it concludes with a tacked-on non-epiphany, which by its very existence makes everything before it misogynistic, and none of the characters likeable.
2. Watch how many times Altman works in gratuitous nudity, like an 11 yr. old peeping tom. When he shows Janine Turner's derriere-crack, at the end of her scene, it's not Richard Gere following it with his eyes, it's the CAMERA, as if to say, "hey, look at this" -- like a little elbow in our sides.
3. He does the same thing often at the end of scenes, swinging the camera with a wink to pick up a sign, a heavy-handed metaphor or scene-link that is beginning film school pretentious artifice at its worst.
4. The editing and cinematography again is of the film-school variety, and at often times is like a rough cut.
5. Helen Hunt, who for years has been trying to convince us she's newly "sexy," is so self-conscious that we never can buy into any kind of character. I am sick of her flinging her hair.
6. The camera holds so long on the golf sequences, as if to say - "these actors really can play golf," which they really don't very well. But it becomes a call-attention lingering as opposed to a mere setting for dialogue.
7. The overly intrusive soundtrack by Lyle Lovett may be close to the worst in history. Not only does it blot out large sequences of dialogue, and call attention to itself mindlessly at every turn, it actually has lyrics which say exactly what's going on in the scene.
8. The writing and dialogue are extremely sophomoric; very few times do the people seem real in what they're saying, and often they resort to movie cliche-speak.
9. Gere has a few good real moments, but the direction hurts him as well.
10. Altman's trademark "everyone speaking at once," in this movie is contrived and annoying.
11. (And maybe worst of all) this movie made me replay all the movies of Altman that I really like and see that many of tendencies above that I criticize are prevalent in ALL of his movies, now tempering my enjoyment of them. I now see a old lecher with a misogynistic bent and an arrested development, calling attention to his weaknesses in a pretentious and juvenile way.
First of all, I'm a fan of "The Player" and of "Short Cuts," among other Altman movies. So when I was at first annoyed and angered by the beginning of this movie, I passed it off to his soon-to-come deeper agenda, which in "Dr. T..." never arrives.
I loathe this movie. Let me count the ways:
1. (Most importantly) We are led to empathize with a man who believes he loves too much, too hard, and hence, the consequences. This, if played out, would be great, as he gets his come-uppance, realizes the self-delusion and that his life and ways with women is a lie. But that's not what happens. We are supposed to feel sorry for and sympathize with him the entire way, even as he cheats, avoids true responsibility and, despite what the ending is supposed to say, never changes. Rather than the boy-birth being a sign of evolution/change/enlightenment, it debunks all that came before, in fact saying that all these women were the problem all along. Instead of being a witty examination of flawed Dallas women, it concludes with a tacked-on non-epiphany, which by its very existence makes everything before it misogynistic, and none of the characters likeable.
2. Watch how many times Altman works in gratuitous nudity, like an 11 yr. old peeping tom. When he shows Janine Turner's derriere-crack, at the end of her scene, it's not Richard Gere following it with his eyes, it's the CAMERA, as if to say, "hey, look at this" -- like a little elbow in our sides.
3. He does the same thing often at the end of scenes, swinging the camera with a wink to pick up a sign, a heavy-handed metaphor or scene-link that is beginning film school pretentious artifice at its worst.
4. The editing and cinematography again is of the film-school variety, and at often times is like a rough cut.
5. Helen Hunt, who for years has been trying to convince us she's newly "sexy," is so self-conscious that we never can buy into any kind of character. I am sick of her flinging her hair.
6. The camera holds so long on the golf sequences, as if to say - "these actors really can play golf," which they really don't very well. But it becomes a call-attention lingering as opposed to a mere setting for dialogue.
7. The overly intrusive soundtrack by Lyle Lovett may be close to the worst in history. Not only does it blot out large sequences of dialogue, and call attention to itself mindlessly at every turn, it actually has lyrics which say exactly what's going on in the scene.
8. The writing and dialogue are extremely sophomoric; very few times do the people seem real in what they're saying, and often they resort to movie cliche-speak.
9. Gere has a few good real moments, but the direction hurts him as well.
10. Altman's trademark "everyone speaking at once," in this movie is contrived and annoying.
11. (And maybe worst of all) this movie made me replay all the movies of Altman that I really like and see that many of tendencies above that I criticize are prevalent in ALL of his movies, now tempering my enjoyment of them. I now see a old lecher with a misogynistic bent and an arrested development, calling attention to his weaknesses in a pretentious and juvenile way.
Director Robert Altman stumbles at the gate with alarming accuracy: every third or fourth film is something special, and the rest of his output is in complete disarray. Think of "Dr. T" as Exhibit A. Messy misfire about a popular gynecologist (Richard Gere) in Texas, his clientèle, unstable wife (Farrah Fawcett) and a new potential girlfriend (Helen Hunt, unable to free herself from sitcom shtick). There's an awful lot of talent in and around this movie, but no amount manages to make it to the screen. The script is so thin as to be nonexistent, while the characters are poorly conceived. Altman doesn't allow the scenes to take shape, to play out (all of Fawcett's moments, for instance, are chopped short before anything can develop). It's movie-making in shorthand, a laughless comedy-drama which turns fine actresses like Shelley Long, Liv Tyler and Lee Grant into incompetent ninnies. NO STARS from ****
- moonspinner55
- Oct 14, 2005
- Permalink
Robert Altman appreciates women. It shows in his movies; women are often the main characters, and his films offer up a variety of interesting roles for actresses. Dr. T and the Women is almost entirely about women, modern day wealthy Texas women. Richard Gere plays Dr. Sully Travis a very successful and popular Dallas gynecologist. Not only is he surrounded by women all day at work, but his family consists entirely of women. Only a couple of male buddies enter into his closed, female dominated life. And like all good Altman movies there are plenty of quirky characters and intersecting plotlines.
The problem is that the plotlines aren't that interesting or original. Dr. T's wife develops a rare mental disorder that affects only the wealthy, and must be institutionalized. The new female golf pro comes on to Dr. T, as does his nurse. His soon-to-be-married daughter is slowly realizing that she may be a lesbian. And so on.
For Altman fans, Dr. T and the Women is not a bad rental. The director has done better, but it's still Altman. Others, less interested, might want to give this a pass.
The problem is that the plotlines aren't that interesting or original. Dr. T's wife develops a rare mental disorder that affects only the wealthy, and must be institutionalized. The new female golf pro comes on to Dr. T, as does his nurse. His soon-to-be-married daughter is slowly realizing that she may be a lesbian. And so on.
For Altman fans, Dr. T and the Women is not a bad rental. The director has done better, but it's still Altman. Others, less interested, might want to give this a pass.
Five years on since I saw this movie, I am still wondering why it was ever made. I sat in the cinema in shock. I only watched this movie to the end because I thought there must be a reason why all these A-list actors agreed to be in it, and there must be a "point" to all this horrendous mess, which would hopefully be made clear at the end. But no such luck. I completely wasted two hours of my life. Worse than that, this movie is such a insult to women, and all humanity, it left me a lasting psychological wound that still makes me angry today.
To be fair, the only culprit is the script. The acting was fine. I can only assume Richard Gere and Helen Hunt did it for the money. The story is utterly pointless and worthless. The movie depicts all women as selfish psychos and, by respecting them, Richard Gere loses everything in life. By the way, I'm a man and I was more offended and disgusted by this movie than my wife was.
To be fair, the only culprit is the script. The acting was fine. I can only assume Richard Gere and Helen Hunt did it for the money. The story is utterly pointless and worthless. The movie depicts all women as selfish psychos and, by respecting them, Richard Gere loses everything in life. By the way, I'm a man and I was more offended and disgusted by this movie than my wife was.
... It doesn't so much 'depress' me that people don't like this film, as it does when I find out the REASONS people dislike it. I didn't even feel moved to comment until I realized the staggering lack of depth that's comprised in most people's criticisms here. I figured that I'd just watched a pleasant enough comedic trifle. Apparently not.
People, dislike this film by all means - it's hardly the best I've ever seen - but don't vilify it for the very qualities that were wholly intentional. I mean, how many of the 'naysayers' here have even the SLIGHTEST passing knowledge of Frank Capra???! There were odd moments here and there in this that struck me as being decidedly Capraesque...
Gere is PERFECT as the guy who - without arrogance - is convinced that he can be every woman's knight in shining armour... Trouble is, they don't NEED any 'convincing'! So, what exactly happens when you take a guy like this and show him a woman who is, by the best information available, completely self-sufficient? All I can say is: If this scenario even slightly intrigues you, then watch it and find out... !
I think the ending is very fitting, too... (e-mail or PM me for reasons if you disagree; as I don't wish to spoil too much for the good people that are yet to watch!) Rather 'Buddhist' - so surely appropriate for a man of Mr. Gere's persuasion... ?!
(7/10, or ***/***** in profile ratings system.)
People, dislike this film by all means - it's hardly the best I've ever seen - but don't vilify it for the very qualities that were wholly intentional. I mean, how many of the 'naysayers' here have even the SLIGHTEST passing knowledge of Frank Capra???! There were odd moments here and there in this that struck me as being decidedly Capraesque...
Gere is PERFECT as the guy who - without arrogance - is convinced that he can be every woman's knight in shining armour... Trouble is, they don't NEED any 'convincing'! So, what exactly happens when you take a guy like this and show him a woman who is, by the best information available, completely self-sufficient? All I can say is: If this scenario even slightly intrigues you, then watch it and find out... !
I think the ending is very fitting, too... (e-mail or PM me for reasons if you disagree; as I don't wish to spoil too much for the good people that are yet to watch!) Rather 'Buddhist' - so surely appropriate for a man of Mr. Gere's persuasion... ?!
(7/10, or ***/***** in profile ratings system.)
- Howlin Wolf
- Nov 27, 2004
- Permalink
Could this movie be any duller? Robert Altman has directed some classics in his time (The Player, Short Cuts, Gosford Park), but has been plagued by a long series of losers. Did anyone actually see Cookie's Fortune? I hope not because it was extremely slow-paced and of little interest. This film is no better.
The movie is set in Dallas with Richard Gere as a gynecologist. He has a wealth of patients due to his looks and appealing bedside manner. Altman makes great use of the fact that he is a lone man in a woman's world. Naturally he has a wife and 2 daughters, and a divorced sister-in-law who herself has 3 daughters (no males at all). He is literally surrounded by women. However, every woman in this film (with the possible exception of Farrah Fawcett) is extremely annoying. They keep jabbering away about nothing, fighting provoked by petty jealousies, worrying about minute details related to their clothing, and talking incessantly on their cell phones. It is extremely aggravating and awfully stereotypical. Perhaps that was Altman's point?
At any rate, nothing happens in the film. It slows to a crawl in the middle. Even the presence of a large number of famous blond actresses cannot save this film (Tara Reid, Kate Hudson, Farrah Fawcett, Helen Hunt, Shelley Long, and Laura Dern). It is deathly slow and goes nowhere. The only excitement comes about in a terribly predictable manner. What an utter disappointment. If it weren't for the terrific Gosford Park, I would have thought that Altman had lost his touch.
2 out of 10
The movie is set in Dallas with Richard Gere as a gynecologist. He has a wealth of patients due to his looks and appealing bedside manner. Altman makes great use of the fact that he is a lone man in a woman's world. Naturally he has a wife and 2 daughters, and a divorced sister-in-law who herself has 3 daughters (no males at all). He is literally surrounded by women. However, every woman in this film (with the possible exception of Farrah Fawcett) is extremely annoying. They keep jabbering away about nothing, fighting provoked by petty jealousies, worrying about minute details related to their clothing, and talking incessantly on their cell phones. It is extremely aggravating and awfully stereotypical. Perhaps that was Altman's point?
At any rate, nothing happens in the film. It slows to a crawl in the middle. Even the presence of a large number of famous blond actresses cannot save this film (Tara Reid, Kate Hudson, Farrah Fawcett, Helen Hunt, Shelley Long, and Laura Dern). It is deathly slow and goes nowhere. The only excitement comes about in a terribly predictable manner. What an utter disappointment. If it weren't for the terrific Gosford Park, I would have thought that Altman had lost his touch.
2 out of 10
- Lumpenprole
- May 19, 2002
- Permalink
I'm out of sync with the world on some of the later Altman films. While I liked 'Cookie's Fortune' less than most folks, I liked this more.
I found it funny, sweet, and it contains one of Richard Gere's very best performances.
The much maligned last 20 minutes are indeed a mixed bag. However, personally I liked the symbolic, surreal conclusion, even if some of the plot twists leading up to it felt clunky, and didn't make a lot of sense.
The bottom line is, this is certainly more original and thought-provoking than most modern movies. And that's enough to win a lot of brownie points from me
I found it funny, sweet, and it contains one of Richard Gere's very best performances.
The much maligned last 20 minutes are indeed a mixed bag. However, personally I liked the symbolic, surreal conclusion, even if some of the plot twists leading up to it felt clunky, and didn't make a lot of sense.
The bottom line is, this is certainly more original and thought-provoking than most modern movies. And that's enough to win a lot of brownie points from me
- runamokprods
- Aug 26, 2016
- Permalink
- Ben_Cheshire
- Jan 28, 2004
- Permalink
If there WAS a script, did Any one read it?
I am convinced the studio watched this, saw they had a big dull mess, and and then hired Farrah Fawcett to strip in a fountain at a mall for publicity for the film.
I'm sorry but this was a waste.
Women are fascinating creatures. How could a movie about them be so dull? Whats more, with an appealing and rich leading character, why did he choose the least appealing lady in the cast?
Farrah is beautiful, but given nothing to do. Tara Reid and Kate Hudson ate also given little to do. Laura Dern is very sadly wasted. The only winner is Shelly Long who only got the part because Goldie Hawn was too smart to stick with the project.
I am convinced the studio watched this, saw they had a big dull mess, and and then hired Farrah Fawcett to strip in a fountain at a mall for publicity for the film.
I'm sorry but this was a waste.
Women are fascinating creatures. How could a movie about them be so dull? Whats more, with an appealing and rich leading character, why did he choose the least appealing lady in the cast?
Farrah is beautiful, but given nothing to do. Tara Reid and Kate Hudson ate also given little to do. Laura Dern is very sadly wasted. The only winner is Shelly Long who only got the part because Goldie Hawn was too smart to stick with the project.
I saw "Dr. T and the Women" when it premiered at the Chicago Film Festival in 2000. Robert Altman was there, as were Richard Gere and Shelley Long, two of the film's stars. The theatre was buzzing with excitement as the movie started (big starry film premiers are still a novelty in a city like Chicago), and by the time it ended, you could almost physically feel the deflation in the auditorium as everyone realized at the same time that the film was a bomb.
Because I went into the film so hyped and the movie tanks so badly toward its end, I came out thinking it was probably Altman's worst film. After re-watching it on DVD a few days ago, I realize now that the film isn't nearly as disastrous as I remember it being. The final 15 minutes still stink, but all of the movie leading up to those final moments isn't that bad.
Those who call Altman a misogynist are being unfair to him; his body of work contains a large collection of fully realized female characters. If they are frequently treated badly in his films (and many of them are), it's important to remember that it's the male characters treating them that way, not Altman. If anything, a running theme in Altman's work is the crap women have to take from the men in their lives, and several of his films feel like atonements for all the ways boys behave badly.
It's unfortunate, then, that the one film that exists almost exclusively as an homage to women and the beautiful chaos they create in the lives of men is full of female caricatures and cartoon types. Not a single female character in this movie feels like a three-dimensional creation, and it's a shame because there is plenty of talent assembled to play them. Gere actually manages to give one of the better performances of his career as the man whose picture-perfect life begins to unravel because of the unpredictable female tidal wave bearing down on him, but the screenplay doesn't bring his story or anything else to any kind of conclusion. How ironic that the film was written by a woman.
Altman has always been willing to take risks, and for that I applaud him. But his experiments in this film fail badly. After sticking with a meandering story for nearly two hours, it's as if the film's creators decided they didn't know how the hell they wanted their movie to end, shrug their shoulders and give their audience the finger. The tone abruptly changes into one of slapstick comedy that comes out of nowhere, and a surreal ending that might have worked if anything leading up to it had prepared the audience for it feels stupid.
The female cast includes Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Shelley Long, Kate Hudson, Tara Reid, Laura Dern, Lee Grant and Janine Turner. Fawcett's barely in the movie; Long and Dern, while providing many of the film's laughs, are asked to do embarrassing things; Turner apparently just turned up on the set one day and Altman set about finding something for her to do. I think we're supposed to see all of these women taken together as representing the different facets of every woman's personality, but none of the women in this movie resembles any woman I actually know.
The highlight of the film comes early -- it's a tremendous single tracking shot during the opening credits set in a gynecologist's office. Everything after that is downhill.
Still, the nadir of Altman's oeuvre that I measure every other film of his against is "Beyond Therapy" (1987), and this movie isn't nearly as bad as that. It's not even as bad as "Quintet" or "Popeye," and I have to say that it beats "A Wedding" in a squeaker.
Grade: C
Because I went into the film so hyped and the movie tanks so badly toward its end, I came out thinking it was probably Altman's worst film. After re-watching it on DVD a few days ago, I realize now that the film isn't nearly as disastrous as I remember it being. The final 15 minutes still stink, but all of the movie leading up to those final moments isn't that bad.
Those who call Altman a misogynist are being unfair to him; his body of work contains a large collection of fully realized female characters. If they are frequently treated badly in his films (and many of them are), it's important to remember that it's the male characters treating them that way, not Altman. If anything, a running theme in Altman's work is the crap women have to take from the men in their lives, and several of his films feel like atonements for all the ways boys behave badly.
It's unfortunate, then, that the one film that exists almost exclusively as an homage to women and the beautiful chaos they create in the lives of men is full of female caricatures and cartoon types. Not a single female character in this movie feels like a three-dimensional creation, and it's a shame because there is plenty of talent assembled to play them. Gere actually manages to give one of the better performances of his career as the man whose picture-perfect life begins to unravel because of the unpredictable female tidal wave bearing down on him, but the screenplay doesn't bring his story or anything else to any kind of conclusion. How ironic that the film was written by a woman.
Altman has always been willing to take risks, and for that I applaud him. But his experiments in this film fail badly. After sticking with a meandering story for nearly two hours, it's as if the film's creators decided they didn't know how the hell they wanted their movie to end, shrug their shoulders and give their audience the finger. The tone abruptly changes into one of slapstick comedy that comes out of nowhere, and a surreal ending that might have worked if anything leading up to it had prepared the audience for it feels stupid.
The female cast includes Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Shelley Long, Kate Hudson, Tara Reid, Laura Dern, Lee Grant and Janine Turner. Fawcett's barely in the movie; Long and Dern, while providing many of the film's laughs, are asked to do embarrassing things; Turner apparently just turned up on the set one day and Altman set about finding something for her to do. I think we're supposed to see all of these women taken together as representing the different facets of every woman's personality, but none of the women in this movie resembles any woman I actually know.
The highlight of the film comes early -- it's a tremendous single tracking shot during the opening credits set in a gynecologist's office. Everything after that is downhill.
Still, the nadir of Altman's oeuvre that I measure every other film of his against is "Beyond Therapy" (1987), and this movie isn't nearly as bad as that. It's not even as bad as "Quintet" or "Popeye," and I have to say that it beats "A Wedding" in a squeaker.
Grade: C
- evanston_dad
- Aug 27, 2009
- Permalink
- lee_eisenberg
- Mar 26, 2006
- Permalink
what else can I say....I really tried to give the film a chance; Richard Gere deserves better; I really don't understand the intent of this film, other than to make every actor in it look like a raving idiot, whom you will never want to watch again....
Farrah Fawcett is used as a decoration, then discarded, for the rest of the female cast, which is disgraced. Lee Grant is laughable (but not funny) as a psychiatrist; is this an inside joke, Mr. Altman??. I really am curious as to the reason this movie was made.
The ensuing story involves drunken idiots (Laura Dern, etc.), spoiled kids, and a ruined wedding. Just another day in this little Texas town, or Beverly Hills, for that matter. But ....who's laughing....the humor is so cheap and obvious, and the fact that Gere is a gynecologist....Jeez; give us a break ; we may not produce films, Mr. Altman, but much of the audience IS educated........Do you just assume we are from Midland, or Crawford, Texas.....? I really want an answer on this one, because the film has absolutely NO purpose, theme, or redeeming value.
Farrah Fawcett is used as a decoration, then discarded, for the rest of the female cast, which is disgraced. Lee Grant is laughable (but not funny) as a psychiatrist; is this an inside joke, Mr. Altman??. I really am curious as to the reason this movie was made.
The ensuing story involves drunken idiots (Laura Dern, etc.), spoiled kids, and a ruined wedding. Just another day in this little Texas town, or Beverly Hills, for that matter. But ....who's laughing....the humor is so cheap and obvious, and the fact that Gere is a gynecologist....Jeez; give us a break ; we may not produce films, Mr. Altman, but much of the audience IS educated........Do you just assume we are from Midland, or Crawford, Texas.....? I really want an answer on this one, because the film has absolutely NO purpose, theme, or redeeming value.
- MarieGabrielle
- Oct 7, 2005
- Permalink
Okay, a of people didn't like it, it is not a crowd pleaser. But I did. First off, I like Robert Altman & his movies. Also, it was set in Texas and leads were all Texan except for one but it never degenerated into worn out Texan stereotype land, good or bad. But it did play on the hyper over bred Southern belle & all her neurotic twisted traits. Basically Dr Sullivan Travis, Sully or Dr. T,(Richard Gere) is a handsome successful, well mannered friendly gynecologist surrounded by beautiful women who desire and admire him. He is an idealist who has the most romantic loving, but paternalistic view of women. Even the opening scene was hilarious with his busy office full of patients and staff degenerated from friendly service to bickering chaos during the opening credits.
Trouble, is Sully, is going to be shown up with his well meaning idealism. His wife Kate, (Farrah Fawcett) develops this childish regression, the "Hestia Complex" because she is an over pampered, over loved, over doted over Southern belle. Then his super vixen daughter, who is going to be married in some upper class lush ceremony. turns out to be gay and is really in love with the main bridesmaid, the one non Texan. Since Sully's wife is now committed, and she has rejected or forgotten her whole loving family, Sully tried to find consolation with the new golf pro Bree, but she is too modern to be one of pampered belles that Sully has been conditioned to love and care for. Okay the movie spirals from seeming normalcy to a crazy ending with a botched wedding thrown in. It is a good movie and kept my interest through it all.
If there is any message to it, it is don't be a vapid Southern belle and get a life.
Trouble, is Sully, is going to be shown up with his well meaning idealism. His wife Kate, (Farrah Fawcett) develops this childish regression, the "Hestia Complex" because she is an over pampered, over loved, over doted over Southern belle. Then his super vixen daughter, who is going to be married in some upper class lush ceremony. turns out to be gay and is really in love with the main bridesmaid, the one non Texan. Since Sully's wife is now committed, and she has rejected or forgotten her whole loving family, Sully tried to find consolation with the new golf pro Bree, but she is too modern to be one of pampered belles that Sully has been conditioned to love and care for. Okay the movie spirals from seeming normalcy to a crazy ending with a botched wedding thrown in. It is a good movie and kept my interest through it all.
If there is any message to it, it is don't be a vapid Southern belle and get a life.
I saw this movie with two friends of mine, a married couple. The husband was out the door before the credits started, by the wife and I, perhaps compelled by our womanhood, stayed throughout the credits. Not because it was that good. It was because it was that bad.
You know how Reality Bites (in no way to be compared to this God awful movie) had little "post-scenes," if you will, during the credits? Well, that's what we were waiting for--- something, ANYTHING to resolve the mess that had been laid out before us. But there was nothing.
This movie is insulting. First, his wife goes nuts because he loves her TOO MUCH. Yeah, okay, I'm a student of psychology and I'm not buying that. His daughters are nuts. His sister-in-law is an alcoholic. He is surrounded by needy, stereotypical, weak, worthless women. And although he supposedly "loves" them all, he does NOTHING for them. Says nothing to the alcoholic, never comments on his younger daughter's repetitive cries for help, and is blind to everything around him.
Eventually, he is swept up in a tornado and thrown into Mexico (unharmed, mind you), where he delivers a baby boy. Finally, a boy, and he is overjoyed and restored.
Yes, understand this clearly. His salvation is the birth of a boy and the end of the women.
This is the most misogynistic movie I've ever seen. I despised it. I will never, ever see another Robert Altman movie. Save your money.
You know how Reality Bites (in no way to be compared to this God awful movie) had little "post-scenes," if you will, during the credits? Well, that's what we were waiting for--- something, ANYTHING to resolve the mess that had been laid out before us. But there was nothing.
This movie is insulting. First, his wife goes nuts because he loves her TOO MUCH. Yeah, okay, I'm a student of psychology and I'm not buying that. His daughters are nuts. His sister-in-law is an alcoholic. He is surrounded by needy, stereotypical, weak, worthless women. And although he supposedly "loves" them all, he does NOTHING for them. Says nothing to the alcoholic, never comments on his younger daughter's repetitive cries for help, and is blind to everything around him.
Eventually, he is swept up in a tornado and thrown into Mexico (unharmed, mind you), where he delivers a baby boy. Finally, a boy, and he is overjoyed and restored.
Yes, understand this clearly. His salvation is the birth of a boy and the end of the women.
This is the most misogynistic movie I've ever seen. I despised it. I will never, ever see another Robert Altman movie. Save your money.
I'm sorry, but I like this movie. It might just be my defense of Robert Altman, but I think that this is a good comedy. Dr. T who devotes his life to taking care of women, but never considers how they could take care of themselves. He loves everything about women, and women love him. However, nothing he can do can protect them in the end.
The problem is that this film was presented as a movie for women: a date movie that you can drag a boyfriend or husband to in order to prove love and devotion. The film is actually examining women, their needs and relationships with or without a strong male figure. This isn't a chick flick; it's an analytic comedy. So, the intended movie date turns out to be a disappointment for both parties who have no idea what to expect.
The only positive aspect of this whole misunderstanding is that now, years later, Dr. T ends up on the cheap rack at any DVD store. So don't rent it, buy it, give it another look and even if you don't like it, sell it for even cheaper. When this movie is available for less than a dollar, no one will have any excuse not to watch it. Several of the people will end up actually liking it.
The problem is that this film was presented as a movie for women: a date movie that you can drag a boyfriend or husband to in order to prove love and devotion. The film is actually examining women, their needs and relationships with or without a strong male figure. This isn't a chick flick; it's an analytic comedy. So, the intended movie date turns out to be a disappointment for both parties who have no idea what to expect.
The only positive aspect of this whole misunderstanding is that now, years later, Dr. T ends up on the cheap rack at any DVD store. So don't rent it, buy it, give it another look and even if you don't like it, sell it for even cheaper. When this movie is available for less than a dollar, no one will have any excuse not to watch it. Several of the people will end up actually liking it.
I only comment on films when I feel that I wasted my time... This film was horrible... Not worth the film that it was shot on... Please, take my advice, do yourself a favor and lock yourself in a closet for two hours, rub soap in your eyes, put salt in a cut, start your car in the garage with the door shut, lastly, you may want to just plain turn on springer...
- JoeBagodonuts_81
- Apr 10, 2001
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