|
| Rating: |
   
|
| Run Time: |
120 min |
| MPAA Rating: |
PG13 |
| Released: |
1998 |
| Directors: |
Tom Shadyac
|
| Genre/Type: |
Comedy Drama
Medical Comedy
Tragi-comedy
Medical Drama
Biopic [feature]
|
| Producers: |
Mike Farrell
Marvin Minoff
Charles James Newirth
Barry Kemp
|
Plot Synopsis by Karl Williams
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.
| Actors |
Character |
Born |
| Robin Williams |
Patch Adams |
Jul 21, 1952 in Chicago, IL |
| Daniel London |
Trumen |
|
| Monica Potter |
Carin |
Jun 30, 1971 |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman |
Mitch |
Jul 23, 1967 in Fairport, NY |
| Bob Gunton |
Dean Walcott |
Nov 15, 1945 in Orange County, CA |
| Josef Sommer |
Dr. Eaton |
Jun 26, 1934 in Griefswald, Germany |
| Irma P. Hall |
Joletta |
Jun 3, 1935 in Beaumont, TX |
| Frances Lee McCain |
Judy |
|
| Harve Presnell |
Dean Anderson |
Sep 14, 1933 in Modesto, CA |
| Daniella Kuhn |
Adelane |
|
| Jake Bowen |
Bryan |
|
| Peter Coyote |
Bill Davis |
Oct 10, 1942 in Colver, PA |
| James Greene |
Bile |
Dec 1, 1926 in Lawrence, MA |
| Michael Jeter |
Rudy |
Aug 26, 1952 in Lawrenceburg, TN |
| Harold Gould |
Arthur Mendelson |
Dec 10, 1923 in Schenectady, NY |
| Richard Kiley |
Dr. Titan |
Mar 31, 1922 in Chicago, IL |
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.