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The Doctor (1991) More at IMDbPro »

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Sufferin' Surgeons!, 21 May 2006

Author: dunmore_ego from Los Angeles, California

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Many times "The Doctor" crouches about to pounce on intrinsic deficiencies beclouding medical bureaucracy, then shies away at almost every opportunity. While Doctor MacKee (the remarkable William Hurt) does undergo certain difficulties when diagnosed with throat cancer and thrown in amongst the afflicted rabble - in accessing his files, being patronized, filling out forms, etc. - his ultimately smooth operation and recovery tempers the humiliating tribulations he was made to suffer.

And he's a doctor. His wallet is completely unaffected, thereby negating whole chains of effects which compound problems between patients, their afflictions and hospitals.

Second act enters Chick Flick mode when MacKee's marriage falters (with Christine Lahti - who does a great "sad smile" - playing the troubled wife because plot device calls for it) and he leans on fellow patient (pert, young and pale Elizabeth Perkins) for psychological support. Platonically. Doubt this faux-romance would have flared up had Perkins been 58 and slightly paunchy.

The disdain that the black hole vortex of the medical profession affords us non-medical civilians cannot be assuaged by this shallow fantasy, which ends with MacKee reconciling his marriage (after his platonic pillar dies) and then forcing his med students to pretend patienthood for 72 hours to experience patient humiliation.

Though addressing the problem from the wrong end, it is a nice sentiment. But absolute malarkey.

(Movie Maniacs, visit: www.poffysmoviemania.com)

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