GROSS ANATOMY

US, 1989, 107 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Modine, Christine Lahti, Daphne Zuniga, Todd Field.
Directed by Thom Eberhardt.

Gross Anatomy is not the most promising of titles. It refers to the dissection course in the first year of medicine at the university.

This is familiar material, of the type made popular by such movies as Doctor in the House. However, it is the '80s version. Director Thom Eberhardt (Without A Clue) directs in a cheerful manner with some tears. Matthew Modine is quite an engaging hero, despite his studied indifference and careless style. He enables the audience to identify with the characters and issues. Daphne Zuniga is charming as the expected heroine. However, Christine Lahti has a good opportunity to be a strong-minded doctor with a terminal illness. (There is terminal illness and death, the birth of a baby in a diner, etc.)

There are the expected characters: the earnest student, the demanding student who eventually fails... While the expected material is there, it is enjoyable enough, though not memorable.

1. The popularity of films about doctors? Medical students? themes of dedication? The tradition of the medical film?
2. San Francisco locations, the university, medical school? Songs and musical score?

3. The title, tone, expectations? The visuals in the anatomy class? Meaning?

4. Theme of education for doctors: the initial interviews, selection process, criteria, the styles of the interviewers and their questions? The introduction to the students, the lectures, the study and the program? Anatomy, surgery? The cadavers? Students coping, working, exams? Results and effect? The question of whether the student was dedicated and/or poor?

5. Joe and his work at home, the boat, his smart replies at the interviews, his being accepted - and teasing his family? Arrival, the room, lying about his neatness, David and his obsessions? Always arriving late, a mess? His love for basketball? His belief in looking at today only? Poverty? Smart style with the cadaver? Reactions to Rachel and her questioning him? Introduction to the group, angling the group with Laurie? Not seeming to study? Little effort? Tests and getting the answers right for Rachel? His relating to various members of the group? Changing David? Yet his concern about David's drug-taking and stress? Helping him with cheating in the exam? Pleading with him? Going out jogging for Laurie? Study with the group, the sexual encounter in the motel? The dance and meeting with Jerry, his being upset? With Lu and arguing with David? Leaving Lu? Rachel's suggestion he work in the hospital? The emergencies, holding the feet down, his not being liked? Tired? His being kicked by the injured man? His being persuaded to undo the strap of the patient and its dire results? His continued study and results? The challenge by Rachel? The visit to her office? The diagnosis - and his doing it over the Christmas holidays, his work? His upset that it was her diagnosis? The anger with David's collapse, his being invited to leave? His surliness to Rachel and the authorities? His return home, mooning around? Laurie's visit? His decision to return? The discovery about Rachel and her dying? His interview with her? Motivation? The study, the comedy of the delivery of the baby? Final exams? The news of Rachel's death? The end, his not worrying about grades? Going back to the hospital as dedicated? Relationship with Laurie? The type and portrait of a charming man, irritating? Motivation and its being developed?

6. Laurie, her study, her surgeon mother? Hopes, place in the group? Jogging, encounters with Joe? Her study, work? Going out with him? The motel and the willing relationship? Exams? Her support of Kim and her pregnancy? Jerry and the dance, the clash with Joe? The new term, tensions, work? The group? Joe's absence and her going to see him, basketball, reunited? Assisting in the birth? The end and her being together with Joe?

7. David as exact, his father's expectations? Tidy, timetable? Work with the group, serious-minded? The drugs and the pressure? The effect and his cheating, his being asked questions by Rachel, his collapse, being ousted?

8. Miles and his ambitions, study, contriving to meet Rachel - but not impressing her? His continuing with the group, his assistance with the birth, his shirt? His vanity about his marks - doing well but not as well as the others?

9. Kim, her child, husband, studying, the next pregnancy, tensions with her husband, the study group? The delivery of the baby? The happy ending and her continuing?

10. The glimpses of the various teachers, their skills, emphases? The head of the laboratory, his supervision, conducting the exams? His emotional telling of the news about Rachel?

11. Rachel and her initial speech, her stances, severity, supervising, relationship with the groups, knowledge of anatomy, clashes, tests? Miles wanting to impress her? Offering Joe the job? Her disappointments in him and his motivation, the clashes? The discussion about cheating? Offering the diagnosis? His giving it and its success? Wanting extra points? The letting go of David and Joe's reaction? Her illness, Joe's visit to her, her accepting and her death, her illness, sadness? Her hopes for Joe, her death?

12. Old material, '80s style? Interesting and enjoyable?