Patch Adams (1998) User Reviews

Not as easy as you think

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 9 July 2018]

I have to applaud both the real Patch Adams and the late Robin Williams for bringing his story to the screen for us. I really identified with the character, but that kind of approach to your job has its pitfalls.

Back in my working days at Crime Vicims Board in New York State I thought as did Patch Adams not to just take a bureaucratic approach to helping victims at a crisis point in their lives. Think of them as human beings and not just claimants. It was rewarding, it put me at odds with some of my colleagues and supervisors.

That kind of approach can also take its toll mentally on the individual. For any number of reasons I was glad to take an early retirement.

But I didn't have nearly the educational requirements to enter that profession. And getting too much involved could make you a basket case. Look at how on MASH those doctors deal with the hell of war and the absurdities of their situation. How much more so with someone who already had mental health issues?

Saying all that Patch Adams is a remarkable man and Robin Williams did a remarkable biographical film about him. Fictionalized a bit, but I think he got the right spirit for the part. Some other good performances are that of Carol Potter as the love interest, Daniel London as Williams's medical sidekick and Michael Jeter as the mental patient who awakens Patch Adams to his new approach to healing.

Patch Adams got one Oscar nomination for musical scoring. Should have rated a couple of others including one for Williams.

A fine film about an interesting man.

Devastating and joyful all at the same time

[UniqueParticle · 8/10 · 1 July 2019]

Robin Williams had so much joy in this, its so wonderful and heartwarming! Quite a few bleak characters and things that could have been avoided, otherwise I'd give it a 10. Excessive happiness should be fine, I don't understand why there's a boss that is a Debbie Downer, yeah ok he's serious about his job, but lacking sense of humor that is important for patients to enjoy. This is a powerful film and makes me bummed that Robin Williams is gone!

Drama that tried to be funny?

[Spebsqsa · 8/10 · 2 July 1999]

I think that the critics missed an important aspect of this movie, as did many viewers who have commented before me. Too many have claimed that this movie was a drama full of comedy, or a drama that was trying to be funny. Whether the critics think it achieved that goal or not, they missed an important point. The point is that Drama and Comedy are not two seperate things to be combined. A movie shouldn't have to combine the two. The two things are already combined. This movie attempted to show that there is comedy and laughter inherent in the drama of our everyday life. If we can find it, it can help us through the drama. This is the reason we cry when we are happy and we cry when we are sad. All emotions are part of something bigger and they are more similar than we think. I think that's part of what Patch Adams is trying to say.

I liked Patch Adams, it is a heart warming and funny movie.

[kmorgan70 · 15 November 1999]

I liked Patch Adams it is a funny movie. It is also heart warming which makes this movie not only a good movie, but it is my favorite movie. I feel that Robin Williams is an incredible actor. He makes this movie very realistic. I like movies that are based on a true story and this is one of them.

Robin Williams:The Best Medicine

[SmileysWorld · 7/10 · 8 March 2005]

In my opinion,Robin Williams is at his best when playing characters much like himself.This film is based on the life of the real Hunter "Patch" Adams,a man that Williams himself says that he closely relates to.In the medical profession,it is easy to become hard nosed and so wrapped up in treating the sickness that it is all too easy to forget that there are actual people behind the sickness.We are taught by Patch to treat the person first,because when you do so,treating the illness becomes somewhat easier.Sometimes people don't get better,but treating the soul to a laugh or two can lessen the pain and suffering.Sometimes people die,and while the people that loved them suffer and grieve,the suffering and grief are eased somewhat by the knowledge that their departed loved ones no longer suffer.This role was tailor made for Williams,and he is supported well,including another overlooked performance by the late Michael Jeter as a squirrel fearing mental patient.Thumbs up!

biased but enjoyable

[Yonhap S · 7/10 · 29 September 1999]

Patch Adams is a feel-good movie with nice intentions but somehow the message got muddled. Robin Williams really plays well as an outrageous character and as a person who cares a lot. The film uses every sappy and cliched moments for the audience to like it. However, I'm not sure which message the movie wants to point out: laughter is the best medicine or doctors must care for their patients. Robin Williams displays the former message pretty well. But doctors aren't all that cold and as in the case of Patch's roommate, we do know he cares for his patients. In a scene where gynecologists are visiting the hospital, we see Patch has setup a mock of legs where the middle area is the door and watching the doctors enter the hospital is like that famous scene in Look Who's Talking. It was funny, but I realize also that I wouldn't want that joke played on me. In the generally panned "courtroom" scene, we see Patch making a speech where he is being tried for operating a clinic without a license. He talked his way about improving the quality of life for the patients while skirting the issue that he was illegally operating a clinic. From some of the comments here in IMDB, I think the problem with Patch's character was that his way (supposedly laughter is best medicine) is put too much like a gospel. What we mostly want is that there are people who care for us (much like what William Hurt's character in The Doctor wanted) and treat us well. We don't really care about any dumb jokes, we just want to be happy and cared for. The less fortunate ones like the kids in chemotherapy would benefit more from Patch's clownish ways of entertainment. There's nothing in this movie relating to Make a Wish Foundation, so I wonder why the hell the old woman in the movie must wallow in noodles just so she will eat. Although you could fault the movie for its overly constructed plot, you'll still end up enjoying it. You just wish for less bias in the story. The verdict: 3.5 of 5 stars.

Very wonderful film!!

[Lindy-24 · 10/10 · 14 September 1999]

My husband and I loved this film. We laughed, cried and felt warm and fuzzy all over! Very well made film. Robin, as always did a great job with his part. His co-actor/actress were very good too. The movie made us a part of what was going on. I want a doctor just like Patch. To bad there aren't more doctors like that.

Classic Robin Williams

[amytudorin · 7/10 · 23 October 2019]

Ignore the critics, this movie deserves more credit than it was given. It's a revolutionary story of the man who completely changed the doctor patient relationship. While he sometimes appeared delusional, Patch believed that the best kind of medicine was laughter. He believed in restoring humanity to patients, seeing them as individuals rather than numbers or breathing corpses. It's heartwarming and funny and brutal at times but definitely worth watching.

6.5... yeah, right. I Think Some Reviewers Just Need to Laugh a Bit More

[Caesarboy5 · 9/10 · 14 August 2014]

After finishing Patch Adams I did as I always do after watching a movie. I went to IMDb to see what other people thought. And man was I shocked.

A 6.5 out of 10. How is that possible.

For those who don't know, I have a system for my reviews.

An 8 is a film that perfectly fulfills every film obligation. So the story sets itself up properly, creates some characters, those characters undergo some changes, all loose ends are tied up, essentially all that good stuff. A 9 is awarded when a film surpasses those obligations with something exceptional. Patch Adams has that x-factor. It makes you feel really good inside. Which means the film succeeded in terms of creating an emotional response.

THE GOOD

The script is solid. Every character is casually introduced and returns later. I hate it when characters are introduced and just disappear.

It takes a very detailed look into the brave undertaking of challenging the establishment.

The film pulls at your heart strings. It's beautiful score amplifies every dramatic and heart-warming moment a tenfold.

Robin Williams' performance is amazing... mostly because he's just playing himself. And that's a good thing in my opinion. With his recent suicide, you can really see more into the character he portrays as a reflection of himself. RIP Robin Williams.

THE BAD

What irked me a bit is how they didn't mention the girl he fell in love with again at the end. They just kind of forgot to re-visit such an important character for almost three quarters of the film. I suspect there's a good reason why, since the script was solid in all other instances. Either way, this minor fault is nothing to worry about.

VERDICT

I really enjoyed the movie.

I think you should always look at a movie in terms of what it wants to accomplish. This film set out to be a feel-good comedy-drama. It succeeds in all three of those fields.

If you don't hate "excessively happy" films, check out Patch Adams (the excessively happy thing is a joke from the movie in case you're wondering).

9/10

Well meaning, but haven't we been here before?

[RNMorton · 6/10 · 17 October 1999]

Robin Williams is on target as unconventional medical student (and former psychiatric patient), who refuses to follow rules which he believes stifle his efforts to help the sick. Monica Potter is also very attractive as William's hesitant love interest. But the film is too much formula - the conformists are bad without any real explanation of their motivation, and the film squanders a solid resolution with too many last-chance confrontations and false endings. Even if the film faithfully depicted what actually happened to the real-life Patch (and that would be a first for Hollywood), it would have been more effective focusing on the initial premise - a unique, truly caring practice of medicine - and downplaying the flak Patch took for following his convictions. Watch the first half, your decision on the second half.

Worst film of 1998.

[Stoney-4 · 1/10 · 12 January 1999]

"Patch Adams" is the perfect film for anyone who has never seen another movie in their life (particularly "Dead Poets Society," since there are strong connections, i.e. Robin Williams as misunderstood Christ figure, pointless death of major characters, cheap emotional manipulation, etc). There is no plot point that any observant film-goer won't be able to call in advance.

This movie is shameless, particularly the ending, which makes me fume just thinking about it. (Don't read onward it you want the surprise of realizing what the ending will be five minutes into the film.) Okay, so there's a courtroom scene. In a medical drama. Okay, so you might not have a problem with that. But here's the charge against Patch in said scene: Practicing medicine without a license. Guess what? He's guilty! He is running his little hospital ILLEGALLY! He's guilty!!!! But nevermind that, cuz here come all those little kids Patch made laugh....and look! They're all putting enema bulbs on their noses to look like clowns....just like their felon hero, Patch. Hmm...those kids....none of them have hair......so I'm guessing they're all on chemo or radiation......meaning it probably isn't very safe for them to wander into a courtroom (in their hospital gowns, no less). Somebody get these kids and IV, quick! Oh, and Patch isn't guilty, cuz he makes people laugh. Somebody get me a bat.

I don't disagree with Patch's approach to medicine, putting a human face on each patient and alleviating their pain with a little humanity, but next time, put that approach into a film that doesn't try to convince me so shamelessly.

Touched my heart

[Vampera66 · 10/10 · 17 March 2005]

The first time I watched this movie, it was truly wonderful and has been every time I've watched it since. "Patch Adams" delivers a powerful message of how to just be silly and break the rules when it's in the best interest of everyone around. He knew in his heart that all the patients needed to laugh. Laughter is after all the best medicine anyone could ask for. But Patch knew how to be serious and when to be. How he treated all the other students, faculty, nurses, and patients truly inspired more than just me, but many people I know. His way of life is one that I recommend for anyone.

Robin Williams give a 5-star performance in Patch Adams. He is a genius in creativity and comedy, but knows how to bring every aspect of a person's life out on the screen. I know that he is just playing the role, but he wraps you entirely into a movie and makes it seem like he is the man.

I recommend this movie to all...young and old. It's a winner forever in my heart.

A good movie, where Robin Williams deftly balances between humor and heart.

[filipemanuelneto · 7/10 · 13 February 2022]

The way people react to difficulties tells us a lot about them. There are those who get hysterical, there are those who care more about others than themselves, there are those who do the exact opposite and there are those who take everything calmly and try to act rationally. Illness and death are situations that no one likes to think about... but they are inevitabilities of life, and the way we face them tells us a lot about who we are. Patch Addams is a real-life doctor who advocates the use of joy and humor as part of medical therapy, and I agree with him. Here in Portugal, we even have a popular saying about it: laughs is always the best medicine.

In this film, we see Patch Addams' life course since he was admitted to a psychiatric clinic. The film is eloquent in the way it reveals the resistance of his university, which defended more impersonal methodologies, putting more distance between the doctor and his patient, and in the way it shows the modest beginning of the Gesundheit Institute, founded by Patch according to his view of medicine and medical practice. I don't know if the film was rigorous (I don't think so, since even Patch Addams himself repudiated the way he was portrayed by the film), but the truth is that the script works quite well, balancing between the funny and the sugary, and brings us a topic that makes us think.

I'm glad Robin Williams was chosen as the main character. He was the ideal person to give it a touch of irreverence that manages to kick the comedy to a level of true madness. It's not the actor's best work, but it's in the top ten. In total contrast, we have the characters of Phillip Seymour Hoffmann and Bob Gunton: the first is the model medicine student, studious, serious and committed, but also envious of his irreverent colleague; the second is the dean of the medical faculty, determined to forbid Patch's graduation despite the excellent grades he obtains in the several disciplines. They are cliché characters, quite stereotyped, but they work thanks to the performance of both actors, who give us a job of merit. Monica Potter is less interesting. She's pretty, but the chemistry with Williams is nil and their romance never feels as intense and solid as it should. The rest of the cast does what need to be done, without great notes to highlight.

The film is not a visual or effects show... that is not even desirable here. With such a solid story and good humorous premises, it is the script and actors that should be given the spotlight, and that is precisely what happens. Thus, we have a discreet cinematography that offers us an elegant look, but it does not stand out, with warm tones and good light and sharpness. The costumes and sets are within what we could expect, no surprises, and the filming locations were well-chosen. I especially liked some landscapes, like the mountains where Patch decides to found his hospital. The soundtrack harmonizes with this discreet tonic thanks to an orchestral and smooth sound.

The worst movie I've seen all year

[mswhatsi · 1/10 · 2 January 1999]

If you took every Robin Williams movie ever made and threw them all into a blender, this horrible mishmash of treacly sentiment and overwrought melodrama is what you'd get. The plot points made no sense, the theme was flawed, and the score -- the score! -- I thought I'd never hear a score as overblown and ridiculously flowery as the one in "Legends of the Fall", but Patch Adams' really takes the cake. Need tears? We've got violins! Need laughter? We've got piccolos! If this movie becomes successful, I will completely lose faith in American society. Does that sound like hyperbole? Perhaps. But so did the entire movie. I shouldn't have paid $.05 to see this piece of trash, much less $8.00.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine.

[famousgir1 · 15 September 2001]

Patch Adams is the remarkable true story about a man determined to become a medical doctor because he enjoys helping people. The medical community though do not like his methods of healing the sick patients, even though everyone else appreciates and enjoys what he does as he is the only one who can do so. Robin Williams stars as Patch 'Hunter' Adams and he does a brilliant job as always. He's an amazing actor and *really* funny too. Other good performances, come from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Monica Potter. Patch Adams is a must-see and I give the movie a 10/10.

Another flew over the cuckoo's nest.

[estherwalker-34710 · 6/10 · 15 January 2023]

Based upon a true story, exposes us to a maverick medical student(Robin Williams, as 'Patch' Adams), whose preliminary doctoring methods strongly clashed with those of the traditional medical establishment, in that he believed that a doctor's role, in addition to trying to treat a medical condition, included making the hospital patient feel better during their medical stay by any means possible, including clowning by the doctor, which the medical establishment eschewed. Consequently, although he was among the best, academically, Patch was dismissed as a student several times by Dean Wolcott, being narrowly reinstated by the higher ranking Dean Anderson, mainly based upon his grades. But, Dean Anderson concurred with his last dismissal. Then, it was up to an appeal to the State Medical Board to save his potential career as a doctor. This public trial, with hospital doctors and students attending, constitutes most of the finale. In addition to his very questionable shenanigans in the hospital, he had the gall to establish a clinic in a sylvan environment, run as a revolving commune, in which even patients lacking medical insurance were accepted for as long as they wished to stay, to help with chores, if possible, and to interact with other patients, possibly benefiting each other. This clinic, humorously called the Gesundheit Institute, still exists, in rural West Virginia, and still is run by aging Hunter 'Patch' Adams: a man with a 19th century handlebar mustache, who still rails against capitalism, favoring communalism, as exemplified by his institute.

Patch very much reminds us of Jack Nicholson's character as a maverick patient in a psychiatric ward, in 1975's award-winning "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest". Speaking of psychiatric wards, Patch spends the first part of the film in one, due to several suicide attempts. We aren't told what he was so depressed about. He found that the doctor's methods were no help to him, but that one patient inspired him to try to help people by becoming a doctor, himself. Hence, his later belief that patients should try to help each other, instead of relying on just doctors. Ironically, in real life, Robin Williams would have frequent problems with depression, alcohol, and drugs, despite being regarded as a top comedian, and would die of suicide, at age 64. The wide media coverage of his death would trigger a 10% rise in the suicide rates in the US, Canada, and even Australia, in the months following his death!. These surpluses were composed mainly of middle-aged men, rather like Robin.

I feel that the film goes overboard in portraying Patch as a clown, as does the real Patch Adams, who hates the film's portrayal of him, although choosing Robin to represent him. We get a brief look at the real Hunter Adams in the Special Features of the DVD, where he is more positive about the film. On the other hand, the emphasis on sometimes extreme clowning measures taken by Patch was necessary to provide a sufficiently interesting film, even for kids.

Yes, revolutionary innovators are often a major pain to established bureaucracies, but they are sometimes necessary to improve things.

Good Morning, I.C.U.

[Mr. B-4 · 6/10 · 4 January 1999]

I really enjoyed this movie and I'm a big Robin Williams fan. I still have an LP of his "Reality, What A Concept" album from 20 years ago. However, I feel it's time for Robin to look for different roles other than the "funny guy who's held down by his immediate superior, but not his superior's superior" role he's played in "Good Morning, Vietnam" and "Dead Poets Society". Once is enough, twice is maybe a coincidence, but three times might be putting an itchy saddle on Secretariat. Sure, he's done other roles recently. I just want him to keep trying new ones.

A big ten

[rudicantfail · 10/10 · 24 April 2021]

Not often I would give 10 stars, but this is a beautiful movie, I don't know how much Hollywood has altered facts, but if all this is true, them Patch Adams is a truly amazing person. Robin Williams is superb playing the lead role, and he was such an amazing person himself; such a shame he died so tragically tortured. But this was "his" movie in a way, how he battled with himself, but always made others feel happy. Such a brilliant human being. The movie itself is a "must watch", happiness, sadness, thoughtfulness and a degree of weirdness. The cast is great, but Mr Robin Williams makes this a truly great movie. I can not believe I have waited all these years to watch it. A wonderful wonderful movie.

A laugh a day might keep the doctor away -- or reduce a hospital stay

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 1 May 2021]

"Patch Adams" is a biographical comedy and drama based on a book by Hunter Doherty Adams (aka, Patch) and Maureen Mylander. It's about Adams' early life in pursuit of a medical degree in Virginia in the late 1960s. After being suicidal in his late teens, Adams was inspired to promote personal care and involvement with patients. That included use of comedy.

The movie revises some of his story. The character of Carin is fictional. Interestingly, Adams was critical of the movie when it came out. He said its heavy focus on comedy left out or overshadowed his real efforts and goals. He also didn't like how Robbin Williams played him. But, in later life, Adams would change his position. Apparently, he and William got along and had a friendly relationship. Adams first decried Hollywood's changes to please audiences and make a lot of money. But, later, he said the film had done some good in drawing attention to his efforts.

I first saw the film in the theater when it came out. I thought then, and still do, that some of the things portrayed as stunts for comedy seemed a little crass or outlandish. But, I enjoy the story for the person it is about. One can't help but like, if not admire, Patch Adams. He's a man with a big heart and genuine care for people. I think Williams conveys that message some.

The critics off 1998 though, found the movie overly sentimentalized. When I hear or read things like that about a film I have seen and enjoyed, I wonder about the critics. How are some things made overly sentimental when they are about warmth, concern, caring and acts of great decency and love?

Indeed, Adams' major point is that medical practice was so detached from the human element His efforts were aimed at what society today regards as holistic treatment or care. Adams said that it was more than just the mater-of-fact treatment of the physical problem. Medical care should encompass the whole person - body, mind and soul.

Anyway, as of early 2021, the real Patch Adams is still around and working through his Gesundheit Institute and other programs. He assembles groups of doctors and medical personal to travel around the world to visit orphanages and hospitals. Dressed as clowns, they bring cheer and happiness to the field of medical care and recovery. And, he's still working on building another free hospital in West Virginia.

Williams and all the cast give good performances in this inspiring film. Patch Adams believed in comedy and care in medical treatment.

Among Robin Williams' Best Performances

[sddavis63 · 9/10 · 13 July 2018]

This is the first time I've watched "Patch Adams" in a lot of years. Watching this film in the light of Robin Williams' suicide just a couple of years ago gives a different feel to it. In fact, knowing what would ultimately happen to Williams creates a couple of scenes that are literally gut-wrenching. The very opening of the movie when Hunter (not yet "Patch") Adams - played by Williams - checks himself into a mental hospital because he's suicidal, and a scene toward the end of the movie when - with both his professional and personal lives having seemingly fallen apart - he stands at the edge of a cliff, venting to God and obviously thinking about ... Well, it's a powerful and unsettling scene even without knowing Williams' fate; even more unsettling with that knowledge.

"Patch Adams" tugs at the heartstrings in many ways. It elicits emotions and even perhaps a few tears - both of joy and of sadness. Anyone who isn't somehow emotionally touched by this movie is lacking a little bit of soul, I'd say. I would have to say that this is one of Robin Williams' absolute finest movies. I didn't always like his material; at times I found him way too over the top to actually be funny. Perhaps the secret to his success in "Patch Adams" is that he was being over the top - but in a movie that wasn't really a comedy. It's a dramatization of the real life story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams. In fairness, one has to point out that the real Patch Adams didn't much like the movie - apparently saying that it made him out to be little more than a funny doctor. Who am I to argue with the guy whose life was being dramatized? Regardless, I thought it made him out to be much more than just a funny doctor. He came across as caring and compassionate and concerned - a doctor who wanted to break through the sometimes artificial boundaries separating patients from doctors and establish real relationships with those under his care. I understand the concept of professional boundaries. I'm in a profession that shares the concern with the need for boundaries. But I also understand that sometimes they can get in the way of actually helping people. Setting my personal opinions aside, though, I thought this movie made the point that doctors have to be more than well educated authority figures with a title. They need to be real life flesh and blood people. Maybe the portrayal by Williams emphasized Adams' "funniness" - but not in a way that was disrespectful. And I say that as one who would confess that I would be put off by a doctor who engaged in some of Adams' antics. I do want my doctor to be a little more serious than that - but still human and approachable. The movie basically traces Adams' journey through medical school on his way to becoming a doctor and his battles with the establishment who often tried to stop him, leading up to a climactic appearance before the state medical board in Virginia.

The performances in this are basically first rate. Williams was superb. Monica Potter as his love interest - fellow medical student Carin Fisher - was also a standout as a young woman with a lot of issues from her past who's adopted a tough as nails outlook on life, driven to graduate and get the title and the prestige, but who is softened and changed by her evolving relationship with Patch. Carin, unfortunately, wasn't "real." She was kind of a composite character as I understand it - a bit of the woman the real Patch did meet in medical school and marry and a bit of his best (male) friend who was actually murdered. I'm not convinced of the need to blend the characters. That was too much of an artificial tearjerker - powerful, but when you find out the real story after watching the movie and what happens to "Carin" you feel a bit lied to. At least I did. Bob Gunton was perhaps a bit too much of a caricature as the Dean of the medical school - by the book, more concerned with diseases than patients, fixated on the honour and dignity and respect of the medical profession at the expense of feeling or compassion. Gunton's performance was good - but he did come across as a caricature. But those two things (the false "Carin" story, and the caricature of Dean Walcott) are about the only things that would cause me to mark this movie down. There really wasn't a bad performance in the movie from the supporting cast.

This truly is one of Robin Williams' finest movies. No one should call themselves a fan of his without having watched it, and anyone who isn't a big fan of his (and I have mixed feelings) needs to watch this to really appreciate his depth of talent. (9/10)

"See the whole world anew each day."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 23 April 2019]

As maniacally goofy as Robin Williams could be, I couldn't help but feel a bit of pathos in the character of Patch Adams, the former mental patient who went on to develop a radical new type of therapy for hospital patients - humor. This all in hindsight of course, as Williams took his own life after a long and distinguished career as perhaps America's premier funny man during his heyday beginning in the late Seventies up until his death in 2014. Following Adams' attempted suicide in the story, a renewed sense of humanitarian spirit emerges that inspires him to attend medical school and become a doctor in order to help people overcome their ailments, both mental and physical. Surely, the film can only scratch the surface of the career of the real Patch Adams on whom the story is based. His Gesundheit Institute operated as a free community hospital from 1971 to 1984, while a revamped Gesundheit! Institute, envisioned as a free, full-scale hospital and health care eco-community, is planned on 316 acres in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. There's something intuitively appealing about the use of humor as a healing art, diametrically opposed to the austere methods of the movie's Dean Walton (Bob Gunton), who wouldn't know how to crack a smile if he encountered a room full of clowns. The genuine Hunter 'Patch' Adams is still alive at seventy six years of age (as I write this), a self described physician, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. To give you an idea how zany the man must be in real life, he named his two sons Atomic Zagnut Adams and Lars Zig Edquist Adams.

Bad humor is not the best medicine

[kylopod · 4/10 · 29 October 2005]

Is it possible to be obnoxious and funny at the same time? Yes, I believe it is. But "Patch Adams" is just obnoxious while thinking itself not merely funny, but noble as well. Robin Williams has played this sort of character before, the compassionate rebel, in other films based loosely on true stories, like "Good Morning Vietnam" and "The Dead Poets Society." If this film doesn't work as well as the others, it is because it oversimplifies what otherwise would be an attractive theme, namely that doctors should strive to improve the quality of their patients' lives rather than to postpone death. I wish there would be a movie that expresses this idea in a nuanced and believable fashion. Here, it's nothing but cheap shots at the establishment.

One of the major problems is that Patch Adams just isn't very funny, which undermines the whole point of what he's doing. I laughed during one scene involving a catatonic patient, but most of the time I just sat there looking about as stone-faced as the pretty medical student Patch flirts with. Considering how awkward and obtrusive most of Patch's "jokes" are, it's a wonder the movie never considers the possibility that the patients might not be amused; indeed, even the most irritable ones eventually succumb to his charms. If the real Patch Adams was truly like he's portrayed here, I doubt he'd have had any success with his "method." Perhaps the doctors who opposed his behavior actually had a point, and weren't simply the stuffy, anal-retentive stereotype this film shows them to be. This film seems to exist in a one-dimensional world where "comedy" automatically means dressing up as a clown and doing unsubtle slapstick, and where the only people who fail to appreciate such antics are those totally lacking in any sense of humor, not to mention humanity. In a particularly ironic scene, a fellow medical student played by the wonderful actor Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a heartfelt speech about the harm in Patch's failure to follow procedure. I actually found Hoffman's argument a lot more convincing than the movie wanted us to think.

In my experience, I've met a variety of medical professionals ranging from those who only seem concerned with the technical aspects of their profession to warm, funny individuals who care about their patients' feelings in addition to their health. The latter can be accomplished without acting obnoxious, arrogant, and immature like Patch Adams comes off in this film. I couldn't relate to the film because both sides seemed too extreme, and there wasn't the slightest hint that a broad middle ground exists. It was like having to choose between fascism and anarchy.

Eventually the film resorts to an implausible, manipulative plot device so as to give the Patch character a moment of doubt which the situation hardly merits. Or, at least, he's doubting the wrong thing. What he should be doubting is not whether humor itself has a legitimate place in the medical profession, but whether his particular brand of humor does. The movie's ideas are stronger than its execution, and at the end Patch gives an inspirational speech that actually impressed me. If only the rest of the film lived up to the strength of his words.

Laughing and crying

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 12 May 2021]

Robin Williams is gone ... and sometimes we forget how great someone was but are reminded when we see their work again. Like this movie (or the silly yet entertaining RV the other week) for example! Yes Williams was an amazing comedian ... but he was also a great dramatic actor! And this movie is a testament to that. I dare you not to cry ... there are so many moments that are touching the heart ... it's just incredible! The first one for me came with the question: "What its her name?" ... so simple yet so effective.

Robin Williams and the supporting cast (with some incredible names to boost nonetheless) elevate this true life story and make it really something worth to watch. It is a love letter to doctors who care ... which hopefully are in the majority rather than the ones who just want to be machines ... as a human being, being a patient is never something that we like to hear about ourselves ... if someone can take that away, especially through laughter ... that is a win-win for everyone! Like this movie is too.

Not As Good As I'd Hoped, But Watchable

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 25 January 2015]

Robin Williams stars in a semi-biographical comedy-drama film costarring Daniel London, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bob Gunton. Directed by Tom Shadyac, it is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams and his book, Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter, by Adams and Maureen Mylander.

Plot In A Paragraph: In the 1970's medical student Hunter "Patch" Adams starts to illegally "treat" patients at a hospital using humour as a medicine.

Williams is his usual self and he is well supported by the rest of the cast especially Gunton, Potter, London and the always brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman. However Michael Jeter who I love, is not given as much to do as one would hope.

My only real problem with this movie seemed to be more of the same of Williams going in to a stuffy environment and shaking things up, and being looked down upon by his peers, but loved by those he helps. I wanted this to be as brilliant as "Dead Poets Society" and "Awakenings" and I love Robin Williams, but think he over shadowed the real Dr Hunter "Patch Adams" who I think deserved a better movie of his life achievements.

It does have its moments, and is not without its laugh out loud funny and touching moments and of course Williams remains as watchable as always, but this just didn't hit the mark for me, despite the movies best intentions.

This is "heart warming???"

[Evan-35 · 1/10 · 27 August 1999]

"Patch Adams" is a dumb, corny, manipulative piece of celluloid that overflows with cheap sentimentality and tired cliches. I have a feeling the medical institution isn't quite as cold and humorless as this film makes it out to be. To be fair, the first half of the film isn't that bad, what with William's jokes, but when things get serious and predictable, it goes nowhere but downhill from there.