Plot: What’s it about?
Hunter Adams (Robin Williams) is known as Patch by most folks and while his past has been rough, he seems to have found his purpose at last. His inspiration came from a voluntary stint in a mental institution, where he discovered he was deeply satisfied by helping others, making them feel a little better. He often did this through humor and it seemed to help his fellow patients, so he decided to make a run at the medical profession. But after his hard work lands him in medical school, he discovers a distance he dislikes, as his teachers and classmates seem so far from their patients, like they’re so high above them in life. So and a fellow classmate end up doing their usual work in school, plus spending a lot of time in hospitals, getting some real time with the patients and in truth, making a real difference. But this is against school policy and his teacher seems to despise him, so Patch is forced to choose between his love for patients and his wishes to become a real doctor, unless he can figure out some alternative.
Of all the films out there, who would have guessed Patch Adams would be released in so many forms? I mean, we have the widescreen edition, full frame edition, and DTS edition on the shelves, which means lots of potentially confused consumers. So while it might have seemed strange to add another edition to that list, I think this was a wise move from Universal, as it wipes all the others off the slate. So now instead of wading through the masses to find the version that best suits your needs, you can fetch this Ultimate Edition and no matter you’re looking for, this release is a lock to cover the bases. Both widescreen and full frame editions have been included, as well as Dolby Digital & DTS surround tracks and of course, all the extras have been ported over and some new ones have even been tacked on. I am pleased Universal has made this two disc release to replace those other discs and in truth, I hope to see more of this kind, so long as they included some additional materials to warrant an upgrade for current owners of the prior discs.
As I am sure you know, Patch Adams has been railed by critics and despised by viewers, but is it really so bad? I think so, but as is often the case, that doesn’t mean the film isn’t worth a look, to those interested. I happen to like bad movies and this one is bad to be sure, from the overly sappy moments to the poor performances, so I always find something to laugh at here. Some of the humor works as intended, but there is also a wealth of bad moments to laugh at, so in any event, this remains a comedy, even in the more emotional sequences. The direction is weak, the writing is haphazard and predictable, and the cast is given little to work with, so despite some talented workers, they’re locked inside poor characters. I’ve seen the real Patch Adams on television and he seems much funnier than in within the picture, even with Robin Williams at the helm of the character inside the flick. I can’t recommend this movie to everyone by any means, but fans of Robin Williams, emotional train wrecks, and bad movies should check Patch Adams out. And remember, make sure to pick up this Ultimate Edition, as it the definitive release of the picture.
The reason this film isn’t a total bomb is the presence of Robin Williams, although even his performance isn’t enough to keep this flick above water. I think Williams is a gifted performer and he does well enough here, but the poor writing keeps him down in the end. He is able to make some scenes work and even pull some rabbits out of his hat, but he still ends up looking bad, due to the material he’s given to work with. I think he feels restrained by the emotional content and since that spreads even to the comedic moments, it can be a real downer for us viewers. But Williams provides some good scenes and I think he was the best choice for the role, though I wish he had better material to work from. You can also see Williams in such films as Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, Flubber, Jumanji, and Nine Months. The cast also includes Philip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights, Almost Famous), Monica Potter (Head Over Heels, Along Came a Spider), Daniel London (Grownups, Famous), and Bob Gunton (Bats, Broken Arrow).
Video: How does it look?
Patch Adams is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the release’s second disc, should you opt for the hacked visual presentation, for some odd reason. This is a terrific transfer to be sure and though it the same one found on the previous Collector’s Edition disc, that just means the same wonderful visuals are present on this release. The colors look great here, from lush greens to pristine whites to sheer blacks, as well as the warm, natural flesh tones. I saw no errors with the contrast either, as black levels are dead on and no detail loss is present. I saw a couple small errors here and there, but not enough to lower the score much, to be sure.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio on this release is also quite good, though perhaps not as impressive as the visuals, per se. This disc offers a double dip in the audio realm, so 5.0 surround options in both Dolby Digital and DTS forms are present, though the bitrate of the DTS track is lower than the prior release. In case you’re wondering, the DTS offers an edge in terms of music, but aside from that, there’s minimal differences to be reported. So whichever option you decide on, your ears will be well taken care of, to be sure. This material doesn’t call for much power or dynamic range, but the surrounds are given plenty to do, in terms of subtle presence and such. The dialogue isn’t buried in this mix however, as it all comes through in clean and crisp form, no worries in the least. This release also includes a French 5.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in Spanish and English.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This two disc release includes all of the prior supplements, except for the isolated score found on the menu of the earlier discs, though some new stuff has been tacked on to soften the blow of the loss. An audio commentary with director Tom Shadyac starts us off, in which he discusses various aspects of the flick, even the lesser points. He seems very open here and unafraid to talk about the film’s negative elements, which makes it an enjoyable and honest commentary session, to be sure. You can also check out The Medicinal Value of Laughter, which is an eighteen minute behind the scenes featurette and while promotional in nature, it still offers some good interviews. A selection of deleted scenes also can be seen here, which aren’t substantial by any means, but still a welcome inclusion indeed. You can also check out some words of wisdom from Patch Adams, which are divided into sections of topic, in case you need to quick reference those. This release also includes a brief outtake reel, some talent files, production notes, DVD ROM content, photo montage, storyboard comparison, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
