 | 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. |
Patch Adams
- Review Date: January 10, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Unforgivably manipulative and shallow.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is pretty tame but does include some strong language, the off-screen murder of a lead character, and scenes with very ill children.
What's the story?
As a patient in a mental hospital, Patch Adams (Robin Williams) learns that his mental health is improved more by helping other patients than by treatment from the doctors. From there, it is off to medical school, where he manages to be at the top of his classes while spending most of his time at the hospital making the patients laugh. How could the faculty object to this? Could it be because a first-year medical student might interfere with a patient's treatment and cause serious harm? No, it can only be because they are fuddy-duddies who just can't remember how to have fun! And while we're on the subject of fun, how about stealing supplies from the hospital for a little clinic that Patch and his friends set up in their spare time? And what goes on at that clinic? Medical students who have no idea how serious the problems are "treat" patients with bandages and kindness. When the inability to diagnose the severity of illness has the most profoundly tragic results, Patch only has a brief crisis before putting that darn clown-nose back on and getting back to the serious business of making patients laugh.
Is it any good?
If the real-life Robin Williams were a doctor, he would be the real-life Patch Adams, who believes that doctors should treat the patient, not the disease, and that sick, frightened people need to feel that those who take care of them are paying attention. Unfortunately, PATCH ADAMS is so unforgivably manipulative and shallow that in the concluding climactic scene, set in a courtroom just in case you weren't sure who the good guys and the bad guys were, you may find yourself rooting for the uptight by-the-rulebook dean of the medical school.
There are a lot of important points to be made here about the dignity that all of us deserve when we are scared and vulnerable and about the importance of humor in the direst of circumstances. But this movie undercuts its own arguments by presenting us with a hero who is more narcissistic than humanitarian.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the dignity that all of us deserve when we are scared and vulnerable and about the importance of humor in the direst of circumstances. How does this movie undercut its own arguments by presenting us with a hero who is more narcissistic than humanitarian?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
1 character is murdered (off screen) and lots of profanity
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
This is a great inspirational movie
This movie inspires doctors to have a little fun every once & a while cure the patient not the patients problem.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good Moral Questions
This film is good for anyone beyond the age of reason.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Interesting flick
If you haven't seen it by now, don't bother.
Still, it is interesting, and mildly humorous.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
not for kids, but all of us
You can see how the old mentality and a new one collides... you may understand why the first and second wold war erupted... dont want to be far fetched, but bringing new idea seems always difficult:)
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Don't go by the site reviews...
Seriously, there is no way that the person who reviewed this ever actually saw the movie. The acting is absolutely wonderful, the story is great, and, like most Robin Williams movies, it's funny with a serious message. Probably not great for kids under 11 or so, because the story can be a little deep, and the murder of a character is very sad. It's a great one to watch, you won't regret it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good Movie
This movie shows one great role model! Patch doesn't care about behaving like doctor should he instead worries about making the patient feel comfortable and happier. This shows how the world could be a better place if everyone cared about customers or patients as individuals and tried to make their lives better. It was a bit violent and there was a lot of language. There is a naked male rear shown at the end
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Tom Shadyac |
| Cast: | Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 115 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | July 17, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some strong language and crude humor |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
