Fox 2000 just announced that they are developing a sequel to the 1993 hit/perennial Oscar winner Mrs. Doubtfire, which will finally answer the burning questions I’ve been harboring since I was six. Did the Hillards ever reconcile? Whatever became of the Euphegenia’s House TV series? Is there any significance to the fact that Natalie’s favorite book character and Miranda’s love interest are both named Stuart? (I hope not.)
I love Mrs. Doubtfire. I really do. I find it to be a charming, sad, honest portrayal of a family going through divorce – and the lengths a parent will go to not to lose their kids. It’s hilarious (“No – he was hit by a Guinness truck”) and smart (“And sometimes they don’t, dear”) and it features Sally Field having a legitimate mental breakdown in the middle of the only restaurant in their town, Bridges (“The whole time – THE WHOLE TIME!”)
Now, here are my suggestions for the plot of Mrs. Doubtfire 2:
1. Chris gets high freshman year of college and thinks about his childhood. “I mean, when you think about it, aren’t we all wearing a latex mask and a body suit?” he says.
2. Miranda Hillard descends into paranoia-fueled madness when she realizes she can never have a relationship with someone without wondering if they’re secretly Daniel.
3. A party wouldn’t be a party without a surprise guest! But it’s always Mrs. Doubtfire, and the joke soon sours.
4. Natalie, the youngest girl, looking to date someone who reminds her of her oft-absent father, goes through an ‘old lady’ college phase.
5. The public firing of Jonathan Lundy, for a well-publicized misstep in dedicating significant airtime to a show about an old drag queen talking to a monkey.
6. Stuart Dunmire and Miranda Hillard are married happily for several years, until the day she wakes up to discover him applying a leather face mask to his robot interior.
7. Stuart Dunmire and Miranda Hillard are married happily for several years, until the day his machine is finally ready to harvest the children’s youth to feed his own immortality.
8. Stuart Dunmire grows old.
9. Mrs. Sellner sees Daniel Hillard’s rather unappealing sister on national television. “Her?” she thinks.
10. Daniel Hillard realizes after several years that he can no longer take the Mrs. Doubtfire costume off. Or was he ever Daniel Hillard at all?
Tags: humor, movies, rachel fields
Wait, this movie doesn’t end with the parents reconciling and remarrying? That has got to be the most realistic Hollywood movie about a man who builds a convincing latex suit and stalks his family.
I know! Likely why they called it “the Saving Private Ryan of movies about cross-dressing divorcees.”
I remember reading about this! The original plan was for the movie to end with a reconciliation, but Sally Field and Robin Williams were adamantly against it, on the grounds that it would give children of divorced parents unrealistic expectations. I like that the movie ends as it does: ‘just because your parents are divorced doesn’t mean they love you any less.’
I definitely appreciated the ending–my parents divorced when I was very young, and for me it was just how life was, but it was cool to see a family at least a bit more like mine!
Who else wants to talk about the Anne Fine book this was based on, Madame Doubtfire? (Or Anne Fine in general, because she’s great.) I love it.; it is unflinching in showing how toxic and horrible a relationship can become, but manages to be hilarious at the same time. (The life modelling scene in particular is a highlight.)
THERE IS A BOOK?! *orders*
I read a book by her that referenced “Alias Madame Doubtfire” on the leaflet. I can’t remember anything about it beside that it was delightful.
Goggle-eyes! Protesting for nuclear disarmament! Entire set book in the coatroom of a school!
Goggle-eyes is so good! I love it.
Surely those who like Sally Field meltdowns just watch Soapdish incessantly, like I do, right?
Am I 70, David? Am I 70? Why don’t you just put me in a walker? Buy a goddamn walker and put me in it!
“A TURBAN? DO I LOOK LIKE GLORIA FUCKING SWANSON!?”
Mara Wilson’s already said she has no interest in this project. And good for her.
I’m so glad that she’s the voice of reason here.
Have you seen her Twitter? She is the voice of reason for everything.
Yes, she’s really great! This article on Cracked will tell you everything you need to know about why that is: http://www.cracked.com/blog/7-reasons-child-stars…
“I mean, when you think about it, aren’t we all wearing a latex mask and a body suit?”
…this whole thing was great, but that line slayed me (in addition to making me nod pensively, because yeah).
Seriously, though, #2–that would fuck with my head. I wouldn’t blame her for having major trust issues.
It will of course be called CATCHING DOUBTFIRE
The last time I saw this film, I was not yet old enough to be a scumbag teen, and I certainly didn’t have any understanding of gender. So, I could be recalling this poorly, but isn’t a great deal of the comedy of this movie that a man is cross-dressing as an old woman?
In the decades that have passed since the release of this film, I think (hope?) that at least certain chunks of society have made some solid progress in regards to gender, cross-dressing, and trans* issues. If Mrs. Doubtfire was released today, I have a feeling it might experience a backlash loud enough to have a tangible effect, and I feel concern for the upcoming sequel. (then again, the institution of male comedians dressing as women for lulz is fairly ingrained…)
I don’t know; perhaps someone whom has seen it recently can weigh in!
No, you’re absolutely right. The fact that no one seems to be complaining about this being made (other than from a “sequels are lame” perspective) is disturbing.
Yes! I just watched this last night… for the first time ever. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be but it definitely wasn’t understanding in any way of cross dressers or trans* issues.
MRS FEATHERBOTTOM!
A squirt of frosting down the throat helps to take your medication / In the most delicious way!
hoooohhghghggh,…. We shan’t be telling your mother about this, shan’t we?
You mean she’s….MRS. F.?!?! MIND. BLOWN.
That last one has always really bothered me. Like even if you WEREN'T their father dressed as a woman, wouldn't you lock the door?
A squirt of frosting down the throat helps to take your medication / In the most delicious way!