 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Mrs. Doubtfire
- Review Date: July 13, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 1993
Common Sense Media says
You'll laugh, you'll cry. Best divorce movie.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that as funny as this movie is, it's really about the pain of separation and divorce. Serious issues such as the perception that Daniel is a bad father because he doesn't make a lot of money, and the implied criticism of careerist mother, Miranda, are buried under a lot of padding and jokes. Kids whose families are going through divorce might find this painful in spots (particularly the separations as seen from the parental perspective). Kids who fear separation should not see this until they feel safe and secure. But some kids may find the movie helpful because it lessens feelings of being alone or unique.
What's the story?
When his wife, Miranda (Sally Field), files for a divorce and gets custody of the kids, loving-but-eccentric dad Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is devastated. Regular visits with his three children aren't enough, so when he hears that Miranda is looking for a nanny/housekeeper, he gets his make-up artist brother (Harvey Fierstein) to transform him into a matronly old woman. Posing as the veddy proper Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire, Daniel gets the position and quickly wins over the kids. But his double-life ruse gets complicated when Miranda starts dating the dashing, debonair Stu (Pierce Brosnan).
Is it any good?
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of those great movies that grow better over time. Director Chris Columbus uses the hilarious Robin Williams to his fullest. Williams clowns around, talks a mile a minute, drops pop culture references, and does vocal impersonations that might have little to do with the story but that leaven what would otherwise be too painful and poignant for some kids.
What raises Mrs. Doubtfire above other movies about separation is the care it takes in dealing with real human problems. Though it provides a basis for a comedy, the issue of divorce and custody is treated seriously. Irresponsible Daniel grows from the experience of looking at the world from a woman's point of view.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the impact of divorce in families.
Why is Daniel seen as too irresponsible to have custody?
Do your kids
think that's fair? What about the working mom -- does the fact that she
works full time and makes more money than Daniel make her a "better"
parent?If you are going through a divorce and have kids, sit and watch
this with them. You'll laugh, you'll cry.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
OMG!
Great movie!!! I laughed so hard that my friend and I stayed up all night laughing! A tad bit of sexual refrences but overall a great movie!!!
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Kid, 12 years old
December 15, 2009
AGE
hilariuos
this movie is a great comedy! There is a divorce, so the husband dresses up as a women and baby-sits the kids.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 10, 2011
AGE
Good movie, too much drinking
I love this movie, but at one point they are at a restaurant and Mrs. Doubtfire becomes very drunk
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AGE
Hilarious, but FILLED with language!
Daniel has to go through a divorce,so he can't see his kids every day.He dresses up to be a woman to be a babysitter,to see his kids.
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AGE
Good for older kids
It was an OK movie. It defenetly earned five stars for comedy! It's a rally funny movie. Some bad words, but other then that, a great movie!
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AGE
GREAT FOR 10+
Funny family movie for 10+
Some sexual innuendo but it will go over kid's heads!
GREAT!
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AGE
Good for tweens
I really liked this movie. It's funny and good for older kids. Although it does have some swearing, it's still okay.
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AGE
HAHA!!!! so funny! i am 11 myself and i dont think it was bad.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Chris Columbus |
| Cast: | Pierce Brosnan, Robin Williams, Sally Field |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 125 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 27, 1993 |
| DVD release date: | August 27, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some sexual references |
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