Patch Adams (1998)

Robin Williams stars in a charming tale of man versus the establishment that is based on a true story. Williams plays Hunter “Patch” Adams, a determined young man who sets out to become a doctor who really helps people instead of just curing illness and injury.

Fresh off of his Oscar-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Williams tackled a few serious and semi-serious roles. Patch Adams falls into the latter category but the film doesn’t stray too often into the kind of schmaltz that dramedies often fall victim too. There’s humanity, heart and humor in all the right places in this film and it doesn’t gloss over or condone Patch’s continual defiance too much.

After a botched suicide attempt, Patch Adams is admitted to a psych ward, where he is inspired to become a doctor. Starting medical school years after what is considered the norm, he meets animosity from some of his more pretentious peers and also from the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia faculty. Med students are told that they may have no interaction with real patients until their third year.

Adams, knowing the value of doctor-patient interaction, challenges his superiors’ rules and standards. Numerous times, he sneaks into the campus hospital and works at cheering up patients who are down in the dumps. He is also caught in the act of doing so multiple times and disciplined. He even nearly gets himself kicked out of the school.

Adams has a vision of operating a free clinic that is open to treating people without medical insurance and any way to pay for their care. He seeks to put the compassion back in the medical field and wins over a number of the people he meets along his time at med school.

Williams’ performance is touching and just the right blend of humor and seriousness. The story is written well, though there are a few liberties taken and a few facts fudged from the real life story the film is based on. In the end, it’s a feel –good movie that isn’t a guilty pleasure.

Now and again the pacing got a little too slow for my liking, but the near two hour run time is worth it. We see Patch and his peers grow and feel a range of emotions. There’s a little romance and a little tragedy, but Williams will win you over by the end.

It was frustrating at times to see how brash his defiance against the faculty was and his behavior nearly took me to the point where I felt almost no pity for him when he got in trouble. I was also a little disappointed that the movie ended with Adam’s graduation from medical school. Sure, there was a brief text overlay describing what he accomplished afterwards, which is special, but we never really saw him reconcile with those he stepped on along the way.

Maybe I’m wrong to ask for so much resolution in a film, but that’s the way I look at it. This wasn’t a major sticking point for me though and it didn’t take away from the impact and heart of the film. All in all, this is an inspiring film that will bring a smile to just about anyone’s face.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5