DOC HOLLYWOOD
US, 1991, 103 minutes, Colour.
Michael J.Fox, Woody Harrelson, Julie Warner, Barnard Hughes, David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, Bridget Fonda, George Hamilton.
Directed by Michael Caton- Jones.
Doc Hollywood is a pleasant Michael J. Fox movie. This time he is an ambitious plastic surgeon bound for Hollywood but waylaid in a small Carolina town. The film echoes the trend of the '90s for movie heroes to discover their true selves (shades of the films of Frank Capra and the optimism during the '30s and the Depression) and do the right thing (Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry, William Hurt in The Doctor, Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King).
This vehicle for Fox is a bit more credible than usual - but it is a fable appealing to the goodness of human nature. There is an engaging supporting cast led by Barnard Hughes as a cranky doctor, David Ogden Stiers as an optimistic mayor, Frances Sternhagen as a wise woman in the town. There are glimpses of George Hamilton as a wealthy plastic surgeon in Hollywood and Bridget Fonda as a sexpot, trapped in the Carolina town. Direction is by Michael Cayton-Jones?, the English director of such diverse films as Scandal and Memphis Belle.
1. Entertaining comedy? The hero who has to rethink his life - the echoes of past optimistic films? The mood for the audience of the '90s? A critique of the self-centredness of the previous decade?
2. The tradition of Frank Capra and his optimistic films of the Depression times? A piece of Americana? Impact for world audiences?
3. The Washington settings, Hollywood and Los Angeles? The contrast with Grady, South Carolina: the town, its living style? Musical score and songs?
4. Michael J. Fox's screen presence, popularity, as hero? The British director and his perspective on an American film?
5. Ben Stone and his work in Washington, the hardworking scenes in the hospital, collaboration with staff, patients? His decision to leave? The offer of the job in plastic surgery, the easy life in Hollywood? His hopes, his attitudes, self-preoccupation, his Porsche? Travelling - and the accident with the cows and the breaking down of the fence?
6. Grady, South Carolina, the cows on the road, the broken fence - and the encounter with the judge? Pleading in court, the sentence, his service in the town? The introduction to Dr Hogue, to Nurse Packer? Their antagonism? The contrast with the mayor and his genial welcome - and hold over Ben?
7. The unexpected stay in Grady, going to his cabin, dreams and hopes, the dream sequence and the girl of his dreams? His future? Seeing Lou and her swimming, coming naked out of the water, talking to him - and then meeting him at the hospital, driving her ambulance?
8. Ben and the attraction of Lou, staying in the town for a while - but the encounter with Hank, Lou's boyfriend, Hank's hopes? Ben at work, the visits, his manner with patients? The payment by the pig? The mayor pressuring him to stay? The bet about Lou?
9. His delay with the fixing of the car, trading in the pig, the pig and the butcher? Having to rescue the pig for Emma? The reactions to Ben in the town, Lou and her hearing about the bet?
10. Lilian, her place in the town, talking, friendly? Her experience and commonsense? Help?
11. The mayor, embodying the town, the squash centre of America, his genial manner, his manoeuvres to get Ben to stay?
12. Dr Hogue, comparisons of manner? His showing up Ben and his not being able to recognise physical conditions? The wrong prescription? The doctor and his own coronary? Ben rising to the emergency, helping and saving the doctor?
13. The build-up to the festival, the squash, the typical American parade and celebration? The gratitude of the town to Ben? The farewell to Lou and to Hank, to Emma? The encounters with Nancy Lee - and her being trapped in the town, her advances on Ben, her wanting to get away?
14. His leaving - and the car being crushed as he helped deliver the baby?
15. Arrival in California, the clinic, the encounter with Dr Halberston? The vanity surgery? The golfing style - the rich and famous? The contrast with Grady - memories of the town, the news about Hank leaving town, going back to Lou?
16. His happy return, the boy from the small town doing good for people, his life turned around, his values?
