Doc Hollywood *** (1991, Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Bridget Fonda, Barnard Hughes, Woody Harrelson) – Classic Movie Review 8767

Director Michael Caton-Jones’s good-natured, nicely cast 1991 romantic comedy drama Doc Hollywood stars Michael J Fox as arrogant young big-city doctor Dr Ben Stone, who is sentenced to 32 hours community service in a small South Carolina town when he smashes the judge’s picket fence while on his way across country to a job interview in Beverly Hills.

[Spoiler alert] Dr Ben Stone (Fox) just wants to serve his sentence, get his car fixed and leave. But he falls for sweet ambulance driver Lou (Julie Warner) and the whole town, and gives up his career plans to be a rich plastic surgeon for the real, old-style American values.

Not for the cynically inclined, this charming, pleasingly played downhome fable very nearly hits the Frank Capra spot it is aiming at. One of Fox’s best performances in the James Stewart mould makes up for the hesitations in the writing by Jeffrey Price, Peter S Seaman and Daniel Pyne and handling by Caton-Jones. There are also very good supporting performances from Bridget Fonda, Barnard Hughes and Woody Harrelson, who all deserve more to do. It is a sweet and friendly film.

Also in the cast are David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, George Hamilton, Roberts Blossom, Barry Sobel, Mel Winkler, Helen Martin, Tom Lacy, Macon McCalman, Raye Birk, Eyde Byrde, William Cowart and Amzie Strickland. Michael Caton-Jones plays the Maitre D’ in L.A. Restaurant and Michael Chapman plays the Shooting Gallery Operator.

The screenplay by Jeffrey Price, Peter S Seaman and Daniel Pyne, is based on Neil B Shulman MD’s book What?… Dead Again?, with adaptation by Laurian Leggett.

Doc Hollywood is directed by Michael Caton-Jones, runs 104 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by Jeffrey Price, Peter S Seaman and Daniel Pyne, based on Neil B Shulman MD’s book What?… Dead Again?, with adaptation by Laurian Leggett, is shot in Technicolor by Michael Chapman, is produced by Susan Solt and Deborah D Johnson, is scored by Carter Burwell and is designed by Lawrence Miller.

It is 12 certificate with minor nudity and swearing

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8767

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