Product: Doc Hollywood [VHS] (1991)
Rating: 5.0
First Rate Movie, with Stellar Acting All Around
This is a gem of a movie, with Michael J Fox successfully pulling off a character that is full of contradiction -- arrogant, rude, humble, vulnerable, in command, embarrassed, cute, love struck, hurt, compassionate, abrasive, exposed, depressed, angry, and principled. Fox masterfully pulls off all of these conflicting characteristics in a believable way.His facial expressions are subtly humorous and memorable, and five of the six sections of dialogue between him and Julie Warner alone are charming, witting and riveting.Every one of the supporting cast members give equally stellar performances, and the reasons for the various types of conflict in the story are believable and heart warming.I'm surprised Julie Warner's career didn't go further after this, and I would've loved to see other romantic comedies starring both Fox and Wagner together, as we've seen with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers etcetera. There appeared to be chemistry between them that sets the television on fire every time I watch it.I bought this video after checking it out from the library, and I expect it to be one of these videos I turn to when I want to lose myself in the world these two create for us. And this in spite of the fact that I don't naturally gravitate to romantic comedies.I have two criticisms of the movie -- one has to do with the lack of emotion that Warner sometimes shows during critical moments in her relationship with Fox -- for example, when they finally unite, she ends this kiss with the statement "nice tonsils". While this was funny, I thought it sort of spoiled the moment and didn't do justice to the fact that fox had just given her unconditional love on her own terms.And second, there is a scene where Fox and Warner start urinating all over different parts of a forest to deter deer from approaching a deer blind. Initially, Fox reacts with confusion, which lends credibility to the scene (as this is exactly what I felt), but it seemed unfitting for Wagner's character, and hardly an experience that would trigger the affection and love for one another that eventually leads to their relationship blossoming.But this is a minor criticism -- I know of no other movie that has had such a riveting effect on me, and I think it's one that belongs in just about any collection.