Mrs. Doubtfire, murderer.

Rating: Null/10 (5 September 2002)

The story is engaging and thought provoking. The location setting is well used. Supporting cast is good. Swank is very good. Pacino is great.

And then there's Robin Williams. This isn't his first serious role, but alas, even as a villian, he still uses the same delivery, and the same outward personality, "Son of Mork". It's not that he's a bad actor, it's just that he's extremely... well, let's be nice and call him "consistent".

Maybe that helps him get roles. Maybe casting directors figure that he has this large fan base that will come to see any movie he's in. When Robin Williams is in a movie, you know what to expect from him. He delivers a foolish consistency for little minds.
Big names always bring baggage from previous roles to the screen with them. I haven't seen Swank's Oscar movie, so she was new to me. Pacino might have brought back a few memories of previous characters, but at least you saw a cop, not an actor. With Robin, you see Williams.
For that reason, I like unknown actors. And if there ever was a movie that did not need big names to help it make an impression on the viewer, it was this one. This waw a good story, well made into a movie, such that you could call it "art" rather than "industry".