This movie is an emotional and sentimental drama which will touch your heart like no other. This is a true story about a dedicated and unconventional doctor who challenged the conventional methods of his teachers and peers. Hunter “Patch” Adams believed that it was not only the duty to treat the disease of a patient but the patient too.
Robin Williams stars as Patch Adams who in the beginning of the movie is shown to be depressed. Because of this he checks himself into a mental hospital after an attempted suicide. There he cures his roommate’ phobia about squirrels and this enlightens him to believe that making others happy helps him to overcome his depression and he is cured. He applies this philosophy when he starts attending medical school two years later in Virginia.
He starts visiting the patients and later on sneaking in to visit the patients some of which are terminally ill. These actions are not looked upon kindly by the hospital board and this puts his career at stake.
He befriends Carin (Monica Potter) who is a serious student aiming to become one of the best doctors. He convinces her about his way of healing and he succeeds in making her believe in him. Adams finally sets up his clinic with the help of his friend and fellow student Truman ( Daniel London) and his girlfriend Carin, which is called Gesundheit Clinic. Gesundheit is appropriately named as it means “good health” is German. This is a free clinic and he treats the patients according to his beliefs. There are many humorous scenes where an old lady wants to be bathed in noodles and Adams concedes to the wishes. He manages to bring in a tub of noodles and makes the old lady feel happy and excited. Very unrealistic but very funny.
Adams’ views clashes with the dean of the medical school ( Bob Gunton of The Shawshank Redemption). This makes him unpopular with the establishment. There is another sub plot, his relationship with his roommate Mitch ( Phil Seymour Hoffman) who comes from a family of doctors and he is determined to succeed. He despises Adams’ frivolous nature but he also envies Adams’ ability to strike a chord with the patients. Gradually he also supports Adams’ methods and he risks his reputation , career and his future and joins Adams in building an environment where the patients were happy and temporarily forgot their sufferings.
The filmakers have modified the true story no doubt but it was made into a mushy and sweet story. Though the climax was not what the audience would be looking for it provides a sense of reality to the movie. If you are not into sentimental movies, stay away but otherwise it’s a good watch.
There is lots of contradictory characterization as compared to the real story for example the real Adams was much younger than Robin Williams and he was just a teenager when he checked into the mental hospital. What was meant to be a theme, which would motivate and inspire the audience turned to be mushy and a tear jerker. The film is very predictable for almost more than half part. It changes course and becomes a bit interesting towards the end.
Robin Williams has done a great job. He has given life to a one-dimensional character, which is somewhat difficult. Though he goes overboard usually in his movies, his performance in this movie was very restrained. His ability to make the audience laugh is displayed again and well that is the strongest point in the movie.
Do check it out if you happen to get this video… but only if you can sit through a sentimental movie…